SnK au Smartpass Translation: ‘Round About Midnight’ - Mike Zacharias
(I realized that I did some SnK translations last year that I never posted here. And since putting them up here is a good way for me to archive them and makes them easier for me to find later, I decided that I need to get caught up.)
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Here it is. The translation of Mike's 'Round About Midnight' story from the Shingeki no Kyojin au Smartpass side-story collection.
It is also my own personal way of paying tribute to Mike Zacharias - Survey Corps Squad Leader & Humanities Second-Strongest Soldier.
(Personal note: I decided to translate this story after watching Mike's death scene in the anime. The more I worked on it the more I felt that I absolutely had to translate it, despite feeling like I was getting punched in the stomach with a fist full of feels every time I worked on it. Because I want the fandom to know how Mike spent his final hours before all hell broke loose inside Wall Rose.
In Mike's last moments we see his emotions greatly fluctuate between screaming and crying in defeat and doing whatever he can to fight until the very end. I felt like this story was important because it shows that; despite falling into a pit of despair during points of his final moments, his ultimate mindset was to fight and fight hard. And that's how he should be remembered.)
Shingeki no Kyojin - au Smartpass
'Round About Midnight' series - Mike Zacharias
“A Story to Keep Fighting"
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Wall Rose Southern side, at a facility under the jurisdiction of the Survey Corps.
“How are the recruits?”
“Everyone is quiet for now. Although some of the kids seem a little untrusting, but that is to be expected”
The Survey Corps gathered the new recruits from the 104th graduating class at a location for a certain purpose, they were kept waiting as their 3DMG-equipped superiors watched over them.
The group leader Mike, nods in response to the report.
“All right”
“...... Just waiting around, it's boring”
The older Survey Corps soldiers take turns being on guard duty, but otherwise everyone is gathered in one room, just waiting.
"It would be nice to have a drink" says Gelgar as he yawns and stretches, which seems to irritate Lynn.
“I'm not going to help you out if you're drunk”
“I'm joking. But… Mike-san and Nanaba are still going at it”
On the other side of the room, as the recruits sat around killing time, there was a figure of a superior officer and a colleague staring across a fighting board game.
“Well, my piece is effective from many positions. So Mike, why don't you just accept your defeat?”
“....But still. As long I keep fighting…. I cannot lose”
“Of course….. that is more or less the key to surviving in the Survey Corps, you cannot give up…. Squad Leader Mike is special”
Upon hearing the words of his subordinates, Mike sits up, sniffs, and then opens his normally quiet mouth.
“...... I learned it while outside of the walls”
“Mike. Is it possible for the Corps to gain anything by continuing to fight like this, or is humanity destined for defeat?”
This was before Mike had achieved the rank of squad leader. When he was a young soldier.
The wall had not yet been breached.
The primary objective of the Survey Corps was the study of the Titans and the world outside of the walls.
Erwin, who happened to be nearby, first posed this trivial question, Mike says.
“Defeat…… is a word I feel oddly about”
Shaken by his horse, their efforts in the expedition were fruitless. On the road headed back to the walls; following a carriage that only carried the dead bodies of their fellow soldiers,
Mike quietly thinks about that question he was asked.
“Still, Even if I collapsed in the middle of the battle... Others can carry on if that fighting spirit is still there. Even if you lose your life,
if that fighting spirit is there,
it will be carried on..... Until the day when you can grab victory; you can keep on fighting”
“So, it is not…… a defeat after all”
“.... You don't think that is trivializing the matter?”
“No. To me, the determination of a mighty soldier can still be heard.”
The young Erwin laughs and as the horses lined up, he reached out to Mike and patted him on the shoulder.
“In other words, unless you stop fighting, you won't lose”
“I don't usually talk a lot..... There are many difficult matters to think about”
The soldiers present gave a voice of admiration to the old tale from the normally quiet squad leader.
“Aah…. As is to be expected. So, I will move my knight piece here.”
Nanaba was also listening to Mike’s story. Nevertheless she ruthlessly moved her piece on the board, trapping Mike’s piece.
But, Mike quickly counteracted her move.
“....At the expense of my infantrymen, I must protect the king”
“!.... So I see. You intend on persisting until you're down to your last soldier“
Mike nods, as if to confirm the statement.
“.... Say, don't you think it looks a bit unsightly? “
“No …… It is the essence of a Survey Corpsman “
The appearance of a superior soldier who does not give up no matter how bleak the battle situation may look;
giving strength to their fellow soldiers.
Having the strength to fight until the very end.
( End )
----------------
Here it is. The translation of Mike's 'Round About Midnight' story from the Shingeki no Kyojin au Smartpass side-story collection.
It is also my own personal way of paying tribute to Mike Zacharias - Survey Corps Squad Leader & Humanities Second-Strongest Soldier.
(Personal note: I decided to translate this story after watching Mike's death scene in the anime. The more I worked on it the more I felt that I absolutely had to translate it, despite feeling like I was getting punched in the stomach with a fist full of feels every time I worked on it. Because I want the fandom to know how Mike spent his final hours before all hell broke loose inside Wall Rose.
In Mike's last moments we see his emotions greatly fluctuate between screaming and crying in defeat and doing whatever he can to fight until the very end. I felt like this story was important because it shows that; despite falling into a pit of despair during points of his final moments, his ultimate mindset was to fight and fight hard. And that's how he should be remembered.)
Shingeki no Kyojin - au Smartpass
'Round About Midnight' series - Mike Zacharias
“A Story to Keep Fighting"
----------------
Wall Rose Southern side, at a facility under the jurisdiction of the Survey Corps.
“How are the recruits?”
“Everyone is quiet for now. Although some of the kids seem a little untrusting, but that is to be expected”
The Survey Corps gathered the new recruits from the 104th graduating class at a location for a certain purpose, they were kept waiting as their 3DMG-equipped superiors watched over them.
The group leader Mike, nods in response to the report.
“All right”
“...... Just waiting around, it's boring”
The older Survey Corps soldiers take turns being on guard duty, but otherwise everyone is gathered in one room, just waiting.
"It would be nice to have a drink" says Gelgar as he yawns and stretches, which seems to irritate Lynn.
“I'm not going to help you out if you're drunk”
“I'm joking. But… Mike-san and Nanaba are still going at it”
On the other side of the room, as the recruits sat around killing time, there was a figure of a superior officer and a colleague staring across a fighting board game.
“Well, my piece is effective from many positions. So Mike, why don't you just accept your defeat?”
“....But still. As long I keep fighting…. I cannot lose”
“Of course….. that is more or less the key to surviving in the Survey Corps, you cannot give up…. Squad Leader Mike is special”
Upon hearing the words of his subordinates, Mike sits up, sniffs, and then opens his normally quiet mouth.
“...... I learned it while outside of the walls”
“Mike. Is it possible for the Corps to gain anything by continuing to fight like this, or is humanity destined for defeat?”
This was before Mike had achieved the rank of squad leader. When he was a young soldier.
The wall had not yet been breached.
The primary objective of the Survey Corps was the study of the Titans and the world outside of the walls.
Erwin, who happened to be nearby, first posed this trivial question, Mike says.
“Defeat…… is a word I feel oddly about”
Shaken by his horse, their efforts in the expedition were fruitless. On the road headed back to the walls; following a carriage that only carried the dead bodies of their fellow soldiers,
Mike quietly thinks about that question he was asked.
“Still, Even if I collapsed in the middle of the battle... Others can carry on if that fighting spirit is still there. Even if you lose your life,
if that fighting spirit is there,
it will be carried on..... Until the day when you can grab victory; you can keep on fighting”
“So, it is not…… a defeat after all”
“.... You don't think that is trivializing the matter?”
“No. To me, the determination of a mighty soldier can still be heard.”
The young Erwin laughs and as the horses lined up, he reached out to Mike and patted him on the shoulder.
“In other words, unless you stop fighting, you won't lose”
“I don't usually talk a lot..... There are many difficult matters to think about”
The soldiers present gave a voice of admiration to the old tale from the normally quiet squad leader.
“Aah…. As is to be expected. So, I will move my knight piece here.”
Nanaba was also listening to Mike’s story. Nevertheless she ruthlessly moved her piece on the board, trapping Mike’s piece.
But, Mike quickly counteracted her move.
“....At the expense of my infantrymen, I must protect the king”
“!.... So I see. You intend on persisting until you're down to your last soldier“
Mike nods, as if to confirm the statement.
“.... Say, don't you think it looks a bit unsightly? “
“No …… It is the essence of a Survey Corpsman “
The appearance of a superior soldier who does not give up no matter how bleak the battle situation may look;
giving strength to their fellow soldiers.
Having the strength to fight until the very end.
( End )