The spoiler story is behind a spoiler. It’s an interesting spoiler about Saralegi that might be missed if you read through it, but still a spoiler. I also once again underlined important/interesting English words~
Murata x Yuuri
Shibuya’s been going on about tickets for the opening game and in the meantime I was staring at the steel can in his hand worrying about the coffee inside getting cold. We were walking along a river bank at sunset on a spring day. Nearby were cherry blossom trees that had not yet bloomed and I suddenly speak as if I have just noticed them. “That reminds me, Shibuya.” “Hm?” “Wasn’t there was a really awesome cherry blossom tree by the school gate?” “Yeah, yeah there was. It was hundreds of years old. But hundreds of years old is kind of like ‘what’s this JARO that these young whippersnappers are talking about?’” (1) But it was amazing when it was in full bloom. One tree caused a flurry of cherry blossoms and if Touyama no Kin-san appeared beneath it, he would praise the sight in his own way. (2) “Shibuya, do you know what’s under the cherry blossom trees?” After asking this whimsical question, he turned around and gave a short answer. “The ground?” “No, no, farther down in the ground.” “The roots. They’re such big trees so it’s a given that there are sturdy roots packed together under the ground.” “… No, that’s not it… Alright then, why do you think that they can bloom so spectacularly?” And then you answered while nodding without even giving yourself enough time to think about it properly. “Well, you know, hard work.” “Huh?” “Plants are secretly working hard. They’re sucking up water and photosynthesizing. And on top of that, they’re making oxygen for us. They’re working hard in summer and winter, on rainy days and snowy days and cloudy days and then when spring comes they make their flowers bloom.” “Hard work…” “Yeah, hard work. You can’t really see it though. They say it a lot, don’t they? That ducks that swim gracefully in the water are kicking their legs around frantically in the water. Ah, and the principal that does maintenance in secret is admirable as well. Although, his speeches at the morning assembly are long and boring. When I enrolled…” I had even forgotten to correct him and say that it was swans not ducks as I watched my friend speak with an animated expression. I just watched with a smile.
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(1) This was a joke on the old style of saying the word for ‘to be/is’ in Japanese ‘daro(u)’ which is jaro(u) and that sounds like JARO which is the Japanese Advertising Review Organization. The original was ‘JARO tte nan jaro?’ or what’s JARO? (2) Touyama no Kin-san is a character based on a samurai and member of the Tokugawa Shogunate called Touyama Kagemoto. He had a tattoo of cherry blossom trees on his shoulder.
Gisela x Günter + α
“Mufuu~” “Oh? How are you, Your Excellency Günter? You seem to be in good spirits.” “Ah, Gisela. You came back. Don’t call me Your Excellency. You’re my adopted daughter… h-how’s it going, Gisela? Did I sound like His Majesty just now!?” “Yes you did, Your Excellency. I also got goosebumps from how creepy it was. By the way, what is this modern Romero and Argent look?” “Oh right. To tell you the truth, Gisela, I was recently chosen as ‘The Great Demon Kingdom’s Most Popular Demon!’ Here look, this is the notification. I am going to read it, alright? ‘Congratulations, Your Excellency Günter von Christ! You were chosen as The Great Demon Kingdom’s Most Popular Demon!’ Do you understand, Gisela? The most popular. Most. In other words that means that I have the best appeal of all the demons.” “Well, Your Excellency, or rather Father, that’s wonderful. Those days you spent leaking everywhere have garnered you a high rating.” “Yes, that is right. I do leak and drip. If it is for His Majesty then I, Günter, shall even drip rainbow-colored juice.” “That means that Your Excellency’s extravagant respect and affection that you bestow upon His Majesty has finally been acknowledged… by society.” “Oooo, I believed that the day it would be acknowledged would come.” “Nothing will ever come of it, though.” “And so I had a thought. If I am the most popular demon, then public organizations across the kingdom will send me requests one after the other. So in order to not be panicked at the time, I thought I would start to mentally prepare myself now… see?” “See what?” “How is this pose? This… This form that offers my body and self to His Majesty the True King.” “I think it is very beautiful. It’s very theatrical and exaggerated. However, it might be a bit too steeped in artistic quality and for a boorish soldier like myself it feels a little ‘eugh.’” “What? Ah, you mean Blood Pledge Castle. I see, I see. I look like Mister Blood Pledge Castle! Mufuu~ I am happy to hear such praise. Ah, incidentally ‘Mister’ is a word from the world His Majesty was raised in that means Mr. Nagashima. Hmm, yes. I am the so-called Mr. Nagashima Blood Pledge Castle? It has a vague metropolitan feel to it, does it not?” (1) “Metropolitan… Well of course. This is the capital city of The Great Demon Kingdom.” “Mufuu~ How would this pose be for soldier recruitment advertisements? The catch phrase will be ‘Welcome, you will gain confidence in life.’ Ah, by the way ‘catch phrase’ means catch and-” “If I might say something, Your Excellency. That catch phrase that just sliiiightly saps the energy out of you would affect the morale of us soldiers. How about you use that for publicity for the diary you have in your hand?” “Diary? Did you say diary? Ah, this is not a love diary. This is, mufuu, a heart-moving work called ‘Winter and so on’ detailing the pure love between myself and His Majesty. Muhaa~” “Your Excellency? Your snorting is, no, breathing is wild, Your Excellency. What’s wrong!?” “That being said, this new work is complete delusio-mufuu~. Plans for a play have already been brought to m-muhaa. The leading actor will be Lord Yong, Cho Yong-pil muhoo!” (2) “Your Excellency? Your Excellency? Oh no, red juice is coming out of your left nostril. Medic! Medic! Ugh, you damn idiots! If you don’t come here by the time I count to three, I’ll Aso Punch your faces in until your chins become your asses! One! Two! Three! Here it comes! Aso PUNCH!” (3) “Waaah… Even though I’m getting punched I’m sorry for being late, Sergeant. Ouch.” “You’re in pain just from that, you damn coward? Forget that and look. His Excellency is leaking profusely. Hurry up and bring him to his room.” “Muhaa, mufuu, muhee, muhooo.” “Oh no, he left out ‘hii.’ Hurry and pick him up!” (4) “This is insane, Sergeant! The juice His Excellency Günter is leaking is gushing out and leaking all over my back!” “What!? Gushing juice!? Ugh, has it started to come out of somewhere besides his nose? That’s amazing, Your Excellency. No matter how many leaks you have it doesn’t affect you. That’s why extra sauce in meals in town is called ‘Gün-size’… Moron, figure out where it’s leaking from immediately!” “From where? Aw, I don’t even want to know!” “Damn that Poison Lady. It’s obvious she’s made him inhale some sort of bad fumes again. Hurry up and bring His Excellency to his room. Hm? What’s this…? ‘Congratulations. You have been chosen as The Great Demon Kingdom’s Most Juicy Demon’… So it wasn’t most popular, it was most juicy… ‘Therefore, simply by sending a small sum to the address written below, you’ll receive an entry into a large, cash lottery’… And it’s a foreign lottery scam letter!?” “Mufuu muhee, by the way Gisela, have you eaten lunch yet…?”
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(1) Shigeo Nagashima was a player for the Yomiuri Giants for 16 years and then was a manager for one five year stint and an 8 year one ending in 2001. He won all sorts of awards and is in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. He had nicknames like ‘Mister Giants’ and ‘Mister Pro Baseball’ but they all ended up getting shortened to ‘Mister’ which is what Günter is talking about. (2) Cho Yong-pil is a famous and influential Kpop singer. He was most popular in the 70’s and 80’s although last year he released a #1 ranked album. (3) I'm not entirely sure what Aso Punch is, but when I search for it a whole bunch of stuff on Gisela pops up so it might be something she just made up o.o (4) The equivalent of an alphabetical order in Japanese goes a i u e o, ka ki ku ke ko, etc. So, the weird noises Günter was making left out the muhii~ which was the only other noise he could have made like that XD
~.~.~
Josak & Gwendal
Infiltration and intelligence gathering work is much less exciting than what outsiders think. Just by hearing ‘intelligence gathering,’ His Majesty, unfamiliar with the work, exclaimed: ‘Spy? Like 007 and Mission Impossible!?’ Those black eyes sparkled, but the job was actually more grim than spry. With a job like that, he might have thought many times that it would be more fun to be a guinea pig for Miss Anissina. (1) And yet, hunting for the rare super-important classified information, today I am once again wearing servant’s clothes wandering… no, searching around the castle. With a broom in one hand and a bucket in the other. So, it was surprising to hear unfamiliar words coming out of the taciturn Lord von Voltaire’s room that you couldn’t usually hear people speaking in. “… fufu… I’m not letting you go tonight, little kitten…” It was so shocking even my underwear slipped out of place. There’s no way that that His Stuffy Excellency Gwendal brought a lady into his room! And on top of that, he’s coaxing her into bed with that voice so nice it’s a waste! And then ‘I’m not letting you go’ and then ‘little kitten.’ To put it simply, it’s impossible! But disregarding my trembling, His Excellency’s sexy talk continued. This time in a soft voice. “Since fate has brought you to me, I’m going to adore you until you beg me to stop~. I’m going to spoil you as much as I want, my little kitten… What? Do you want something? Ohh, how cute~. Kitty, kitty, you wanna dwink some goat milk warmed by my skin?” Little kitty? What the hell, Your Excellency Eldest Son!? Is this what it means when they say like parent, like child? Not just the second son, but you’ve inherited your mother’s ability as well!? I absolutely have to tell Lady von Karbelnikoff about this. No, wait. Showing her the situation in person would be much more embarrassing than submitting a written report… there’s definitely going to be some persuasive power in that. Honestly, this is why I can’t stop playing the ‘a servant saw it!’ game.
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(1) This was a pun on how the English word ‘spy’ in kana (supai) sounds like the word for ‘sour’ (suppai). And then, a way to say ‘grim’ or ‘distasteful’ in Japanese is also the word for salty (shoppai). So, the original Japanese sentence read as ‘… the job was actually more salty than sour.’
Josak x Yuuri
“War preparation. It’s war preparation.” With the same hand that he used to brush his hair back, Josak unbuttoned his front. “War preparation… Eh, no way, Gurrier…” “Huh, what is it, Young Master? Why are you looking away?” “Well, because normally you wouldn’t think you didn’t have any on, right!?” “You’re the one who said you wanted to see, Young Master. Miss Gurrier is going to be hurt~.” With a firm hand contrary to his words, he grabbed Yuuri by the scruff of the neck as he tried to run away. “Let go, Josak! I don’t want to see that! I don’t want to see! What I wanted to see wasn’t the real thing but the underwear! The underwear!” “Like I said, I’ll show you. Please don’t be modest.” “Stooooop!” “Well then, you could also just put it between this cloth and my hips, you know. Hm?” “Even if there’s a banana in the sack you don’t put pants on without underwear!” Yuuri yelled after somehow getting out of the bodyguard’s grip. His shoulders were heaving. “You told me you weren’t wearing noble underwear or commoner underwear but military underwear and I said that I just wanted to see what that looked like! B-b-but seeing something like that wouldn’t just be damaging, it’s downright traumatic!” Josak arranged his front with a disappointed look and covered up his navel and the skin below. He clicked his tongue in a rude way in front of his master. “And what exactly had you imagined?” At that, the young lord’s eyes wandered about and he scratched his head in an embarrassed way. “Well, I… women’s clothes are part of your arsenal so I thought it might be a bit girlier…” “Oh, then you imagined a Gurrier in ladies’ underwear, didn’t you!? Wow, Young Master, you chubby pervert!” “At least say ‘closet pervert’ instead…” “I’ll give you a straightforward answer.” Deceived by his tone of voice, Yuuri’s face unconsciously turns serious. However, the topic of the conversation was, in fact, underwear. “It’s war preparation.” “Y-you’re going to fight?” “Exactly. Low-ranked soldiers like us are on the front lines a lot. We never know when we’re going to leave this world. Therefore, if we luckily survive, getting to see your wife or your desired partner, if only for a little while, is a life and death matter. We have to risk our lives to court them. So we’re always in war preparation. If we have the opportunity, we go right into courtship. In times like those, unfashionable underwear would just get in the way.” “W-whoa.” It was a joke, of course. But this sixteen year old who was unfamiliar with the lives of soldiers didn’t know enough to doubt it. “Also, in order to take care of our business easier, we leave out as much clothing as possible. We have to finish as quickly as possible. Think about it. It takes time to pull down your underwear and I don’t want to get stabbed from behind in the meantime.” “Eee~” “On top of all that, if you happened across an enemy, having to fight them with your underwear down is stupid… What’s wrong, Young Master? Your Majesty?” “Gurrier.” With a slightly bad pallor, Yuuri looked up and placed both of his hands on Josak’s shoulders. “You don’t have to worry about that anymore.” “… Huh?” “I won’t make you have to deal with life and death bathroom breaks on the battlefield and… um, well making love right when you meet anymore. I’ll work hard to make sure we don’t go to war with any other countries.” To think he got so serious just talking about men’s underwear. “But wearing underwear is better. You know, thinking from a hygiene perspective! Right?” After having his hand squeezed and being preached to like that, all Josak could do was nod slack-jawed.
He can’t say it. He absolutely can’t tell this naïve king that not wearing underwear was only his individual preference.
“You’re not dead yet.” As he said that while tracing the rim of his glass with his finger, the man sitting across from him made a strange face for just a second. His eyes looked like they were staring at a child who had thrown a groundless accusation at him. Perhaps because of the alcohol he has been drinking continuously for some time, the area around the cut on his cheek is starting to turn red. “… Well, if I’m sitting here drinking alcohol then, barring this being a wild delusion of yours, I am not dead yet. Hey, shopkeep. Hey!” And then he turns his head toward the hustle and bustle in the place and starts ordering food of all things from the middle-aged man that came running forward. “Hey, shopkeep, over here, over here. What’s this fried uwaraba? Is it something famous in this area?” All things considered, why exactly is this man directly calling out to the shopkeep or the proprietress instead of to the waiters walking about? Maybe he wants to create a disparity between himself and the other customers around and assert himself as an honored guest to the owner? In a remote town like this and in a tiny store like this? Adalbert placed both elbows on the table and murmured while blowing out breath reeking of alcohol. “… The only thing I can say is that he’s stupid.” “Who is? Who’s stupid!?” Maxine picked that up with his sharp ears and forced his narrow eyes open wide. His ponytail swayed behind him. Nigel Wise Maxine was the originator of the strange hairstyle popular in Small Shimaron, but that fact isn’t very well known. “You, Nigel.” “H-how rude! Certainly from your… you demons’ perspective, we humans have short lives, but there’s the theory that our growth and accomplishments come accordingly faster so our brain development is further along than a demon of the same age…” The man Adalbert had an inseparable relationship with despite being of a different race became talkative once he got alcohol in him. On the other hand, if he drank a little no one could tell. No one could tell at all. No one could tell even a little bit. He was always calm and collected… is what only Adalbert thought. “So then just how long have you not died?” “… Died? If you’re going to ask that way then I haven’t died for about 32 years…” “32 years.” Even so, that falls far short of a demon’s life expectancy. He knew that humans were a short-lived people. However, since he looked older every time he met him, he had thought that he was already of a considerable age. “I’d thought you just wouldn’t die, but it doesn’t seem like you have any special longevity.” “Longevity? Did you say longevity? There’s another rude thing to say! For us Small Shimaron soldiers, wishing for a long life is a disgraceful idea!” “Huh?” The cup Adalbert was holding slipped out of his grasp. Luckily, it was only just above the table so the only thing that happened is that it made a dull clunk. Maxine stroked his meticulously trimmed beard with his thumb and index finger and continued talking proudly with his chest thrust forward. “Serving our master even if we risk our lives is the way of a soldier. If we are concerned about our lives, we cannot protect our master or defend our country. Especially for myself… in my case, the wonderful being, His Majesty Saralegi, is my master. If it is him, he will save Small Shimaron from Big Shimaron’s shadow and lead us to be the rulers of the world as a superior existence! If it is for His Majesty Saralegi, this tiny life is insignificant! Oh, he is still His Highness, not His Majesty, though.” Who knows whether he’s drunk on alcohol or himself… As if he got caught up in the conversation, Adalbert strokes his own beard and his eyes drifted over his companion's shoulder to gaze at the rest of the bar. The soldiers who are said to not want to live long are still alive and the women and children who were supposed to live much longer die. The world is heartless and absurd. If all of this is also the opinion of His Majesty the True King, then the True King is no different than a cruel god. “… In other words, for generations we the Maxine family have died in battle in the service of our masters and that is something we are proud of. The previous generation was at sea, the generation before that on a river, the one before that was out at sea on the way from what is now Big Shimaron to a solitary island…” “Wait. Your ancestors are from Big Shimaron?” “Hm? Well back then it wasn’t as cleanly separated as it is now.” “Huh.” When he first saw him, he had thought he was some country bumpkin from somewhere. “For that reason, as a son of the Maxine family, I should not wish for peace, health or perpetual youth and longevity and should instead become His Majesty Saralegi’s sword and shield in battle and fall magnificently. So this way, in this way…” Maxine rifled around in his traveling clothes bag and pulled out an almost crumpled up piece of paper. “As proof of my resolution, I keep a will on my person.” “A will…” There was a single sentence like a farewell poem and a list distributing his belongings on the yellowed piece of paper. “‘If I die, my inheritance will be divided equally to the people listed below. Wife’s name… blank. Child(ren)’s name(s)… blank… Y-you don’t have a wife or children yet so… there is such a thing as being too prepared.” For some reason, his eyes were getting hot. So there was a life as systematic and empty as this one. “What are you saying? A will is part of a soldier’s dress code. You don’t carry one? Or do demon warriors not have a beautiful custom such as this? All Small Shimaron soldiers have one on their body.” “All of them…!? Young and old all have that as standard equipment? So then if a young soldier didn’t have one of them and died and he didn’t have a will registered, do you make fun of him as someone who wasn’t prepared to die?” “Of course not.” Maxine suddenly turned serious and drained the last bit of alcohol from the bottom of his glass. “As if we would make fun of him. We would just be even more saddened.” He silently puts the large, empty glass back down on the greasy table. “That soldier would not have intended to die in battle. All that would happen is that we would know that he intended to live longer for his country or for himself and his family and return home.” He intended to return home to someone. “If someone who was supposed to live dies, it will only deepen everyone’s sorrow.” The man from Small Shimaron heaves a long sigh and a few beats later calls out to the shopkeep again. In order to complain that the food he ordered hadn’t come yet. “I haven’t gotten the fried uwaraba yet! Surely you’re not going out to go harvest some are you? A cheap and lowly bar like this has got some nerve making a soldier of Small Shimaron wait!” “… Tch, you’re a small man as always.” Tired of Maxine’s narrow-mindedness, Adalbert lifted the right corner of his mouth that had unconsciously turned into a frown. At first glance, the pair looked like a tough travelling man and a companion he got along with drunkenly laughing. “Nigel. Hey, Nigel. Forget it. It’s just food. It’ll come eventually. Alcohol is more important. Bring us alcohol first!” If he drank a little no one could tell. No one could tell at all. No one could tell even a little bit. So even now he was absolutely not drunk… is what only Adalbert thought. However, the cold soul deep inside of the inner part of his chest felt like it had melted a little. It was almost as if warm alcohol was poured upon it.
That’s right. She had intended to live.
~.~.~
Yuuri x Wolfram x Conrad
“Are you listening? Do not open it.” Wolfram gave him a stern look as he showed him a box that fit on the palm of his hand. “Normally I would carefully store this away, but a situation has arisen and I have to leave it in your room. No one can see what’s inside. Okay? No matter what happens, do not open the lid. Are you listening, Yuuri!?” “I’m listening.” Even while he said that, Yuuri’s attention was completely focused on the box. It was a plain wooden box, but there was a wing motif carved on the charming brown lid. It was closed tightly without a gap, but there wasn’t any lock on it. If it’s something he absolutely can’t show to anyone, just what is inside? “I have things to do so I’m leaving it alone.” “Okay.” “It’s an important object that I had specially made so really don’t open it, okay?” “Okay, okay. Ah, is there anything else I should know? Like don’t give it water or don’t leave it in the sun… Wolf?” By the time he had lifted his head, Wolfram was already gone. Yuuri hummed to himself for a bit with his arms folded as the small box sat in front of him on the desk. Why doesn’t it have a lock if it’s so important? At the very least it doesn’t seem to be alive and it won’t move or make noise if he stared at it. Even when he places his hand on the ornamental carvings, he can feel no tremors on the surface. Yuuri gently picks it up and softly shakes it so it won’t open. “… It’s clunking…” It made a sound like something hard hitting something. Something that would trouble him if someone saw it. An important and specially made item. Furthermore, it’s in a wooden box small enough to place on a palm… Ah! Suddenly remembering the bathroom at his grandfather’s house, Yuuri gives a big nod to himself. “Made to order dentures!” That’s true, isn’t it? Even though he looks cute, Wolf is already 82 years old. He would order a pair of dentures or two. “But if people find out he’s using dentures, then his image as a pretty boy would go down the drain. That’s why it would trouble him if other people knew. Ah, so pretty people have their own problems too.” And with that, his attention turned away from the box and he slovenly lied down on the couch and started to read The Great Demon Kingdom’s Daily Report.
“I left the box as told, but Yuuri isn’t trying to open it!?” In the meantime, Wolfram was tormenting the person who had lent him his wisdom. “Didn’t you say that if I explained it like that he wouldn’t be able to not open it!? I was looking through a crack in the door because I wanted to see the look of surprise on his face!” “Like I said. You should have just handed it over normally. Even His Majesty will be honestly happy if he receives a gift on his birthday.” “I don’t want to do it normally. I wanted it to be a surprise. A surprise!” Lord Weller fidgeted uncomfortably with his collar as his brother vented his frustrations on him. He didn’t know if his little brother was angry or sad. “But anyway, it’s strange. When you were sixteen you fell for this plan completely.” “D-don’t say I fell for it!”
Happy Birthday Dear Yuuri!
“Look forward to your birthday this year.” Everyone says that but…
A friend said, “I read through the baseball rule book carefully for you. “In order to talk with you. Right now I’m sort of a professor of baseball. Ask me anything. I’ll know what a fielder’s choice and an infield fly is, you know?” Another friend said, “I planted a tree for you. “It’s a tree that blooms amazing and colorful flowers. If you let it be, it’ll grow as big as a dragon and want food and start walking around at night.” “W-why such a scary tree…” “What? You always use that rod-shaped weapon, right? The wood from that tree was the closest to that material.” My sibling said, “Since you’ve added another unnecessary year to your age,” and handed me a video game. “Learn urban planning, building administration, and farm management by the end of the day. Until yesterday you were just a single citizen, but now that your birthday has passed you acquired the skills to be a great mayor. Oh my, have you grown!” My mother said, “I thought I would give this to you when you turned sixteen,” and pulled out a thick book with her special smile. I-is it an album jam-packed with embarrassing photos of when I was a child!? It’s finally come. The present I’ve been dreading! Wh-wh-wh-what embarrassing things are in my past!? As I thought that, I saw that the inside was pure white and there wasn’t a single photograph inside. “Honestly, Yuu-chan, you’re supposed to start filling it yourself now. Fill it with photos of friends and companions and lovers.” However, as she was speaking my mother stroked the album with a slightly glum expression. “But it definitely doesn’t measure up, huh?” “What?” “No matter how much I try to think up something clever to give you, it never measures up to the wonderful present that I gave you on your zero birthday.” Of course I don’t have any memories of when I was zero years old. I wonder what kind of nice present I got. Even so, why couldn’t I remember it? It’s a waste. It’s really a waste. “What are you saying? Papa and Mama gave you your first step into life.” A sturdy body and a strong heart. There’s really nothing better than that.
Thank you, everyone.
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DONE! Whoohoo! I'm super excited! Also tired because it's late. BUT EXCITED! I'm going to sleep now XD