Translator

Corner

Minasan oideyasu. This is Yukkuri demasu!

Well, sorry for being 3 days late.

I watch too many FF XV videos……

DISCLAIMER: There is no

guarantee that my translation is 100% correct. Please correct me if I was

wrong.

Author:

Dozeumaru(どぜう丸)

Translator:

Yukkuri Oniisan

Editor:

Online Grammar

Editor

Enlightenment Arc

Chapter 5 As a Person A

Continental Calender Year 1547, mid-Thirdmonth

It was late in the night, the dark

reigned 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 light

moss streetlamp. They repeatedly turned around to look at their back, as if

they were pursued by something. And then,

*swoosh*

「Kugh-」(Shadow 3)

「「!」」(Shadow 1& 2)

The moment they heard the stirred

air sound, one of the shadows fell forward. Sticking on his back was a Kukri

Knife (a small curved blade). The pursuers will soon arrive! The moment the

shadows realized this they decided that it would dangerous if they remained in

this place and soon running separated to left and right direction. Every presence

behind them seemed to be pursuing to the left direction. The shadow who ran to

the right felt pity at his comrade while at the same time, he also felt relieved

that he had able to escape. However,

「！？」(Shadow 1)

The shadow stopped. It was

because there was a presence of an unusual man stood in his way. That man appearance

was bizarre. He was wearing a seemingly skin tight black metallic armor and a black

Sword Tiger mask.

「『Parnam’s

Black(Kuro) Tiger(Tora)』……」(Shadow 1)

The shadow unconsciously

muttered. Recently, there was a rumor amongst the “weeds”. There is a Black

Tiger 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? Because

that Black Tiger only rooting out the “weeds”, he didn’t lay hand on a certain merchant

who saw his appearance by coincidence. Judging from merchant’s vague testimony

and the information of the whereabouts of the “weeds” at that time, “In the

Capital there is a Black Tiger”, became a common knowledge amongst the “weeds”.

And then there was this rumor. If

while spying, you encountered Parnam’s Black Tiger, the first thing you do is

to run. The Black Tiger is not someone that could be defeated. But then that

rumor was closed with the remark 「…… Well, as if you could escape, that is.」When

the shadow encountered the rumored Black Tiger himself, he could agree that the

rumor is true. Even though the Black Tiger was just standing still, the shadow

couldn’t find any gaps of weakness in him. It was just like a veteran warrior

that 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 care

about his opponent. It was in all respect, no more than a very formal

ultimatum. However, the shadow who should have been cornered, “smiled”.

「~~ sc.u.m, we are

not afraid to die!」(Shadow 1)

After saying this, the shadow

pulled out the two shortswords from his waist and leaped upon the Black Tiger. The

two swords approached the Black Tiger. However, the Black Tiger lowered his

waist, unsheathed his “oodachi”, and slashed down at the man, cleaving him into

two.[1]

『!?』(Black Tiger)

The next moment, the cleaved body

of the man was wrapped in flames. From the beginning, it seemed that he had

been intending to seal his own mouth by dying and burn his own body to remove

any trace of evidence. What a commendable loyalty…… In the past, The Black Tiger

might think so. However, the current Black Tiger didn’t have any thought like

that. If there was any meaning of a death born out of loyalty, then it would be

if the Lord grieves for him. To die for a Lord that uses his subordinate’s life

as disposable a.s.set, would be only a vain death.

『Kagetora(Shadow Tiger)-sama.』(Black Cat Operative)

When he came back from his

thoughts, the Black Tiger…… Kagetora was surrounded by men in black masks. They

were the members of the Special Intelligence Operations Squad, the 『Black

Cat』, under King Souma’s control, who protected Elfrieden

from the shadow.

『……The

other one? 』(Kagetora)

「It's

the same state like this one.」(Black Cat Operative)

『I

see……』(Kagetora)

Kagetora pondered for a short

moment before he gave to his subordinates, the 『Black

Cat』.

『I will

leave the cleaning to you. I will report this matter to His Majesty.』(Kagetora)

「「「Yes,

Sir!」」」(Black Cat Operative)

After he confirmed the Black Cat

Squad had dispersed, Kagetora remembered the word that the shadow said awhile

back.

――― Infidel Sc.u.m!

If not for his skill, Kagetora

could barely caught that man’s whisper.

(Infidel, right? Then this is…… yet another troublesome

one.)

While thinking so, Kagetora disappeared

into the dark.

◇　◇　◇

――― A Government Office in Parnam

Castle

Today, just like yesterday, I was

working on the paperwork while having Liscia to help me. Then, the gla.s.s door on

the balcony behind me opened all of a sudden. I was surprised and looked back, and

there was the sight of Kagetora’ black metallic armor dyed with blood…… I am

glad that we were the only one in the room. The chambermaids, who at times came

to serve, would surely faint if they saw this scene. Well, though I believe he would

wait for a time when there are no other people.

「-!?

Blood!」(Liscia)

Liscia rushed to try wiping the

blood sticking on the armor with a nearby cloth, but she was stopped by

Kagetora’s hand.

『It's

the 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 carried

around his waist. By the way, I did make an oodachi during my research of Nine-Headed

Dragon’s Katana. It was made to improve the range of the slas.h.i.+ng attack + sharpness,

but its length was the major flaw and it was a weapon that was hard to handle by

people with mediocre body stature (they wouldn’t able to unsheathe it). I granted

him the sword, thinking that there wouldn’t be any problem for someone as tall

as 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 this

reply, then I heard a small laugh from inside the mask.

「…… Is

something wrong? Have I said something strange?」(Souma)

『Fufu……

I just thought that I am blessed with a good Lord.』(Kagetora)

「? Is

that a sarcasm?」(Souma)

『No,

this is my true opinion.』(Kagetora)

Perhaps he had thought about

something, Kagetora spoke with a good mood. Well, I don’t understand…… But,

let’s put this aside. The Commander of the SIO Squad 『Black

Cat』 wouldn’t just

visit 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 other

words, recently, the foreign spies were skulking in the city.

「Grand

Chaos Empire?」(Souma)

『If

it 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 frequently

exchanged information about other countries.』(Kagetora)

「So, there

is a shadow rule in the shadow world ……」(Souma)

This was a realm that I shouldn’t

interfere foolishly, better to leave it to Kagetora.

「What

country did these skulking spies come from?」(Kagetora)

『There

are no evidence since they had been destroyed, but…… probably, they came from

the Orthodoxy Empire』(Kagetora)

「…, so,

it’s 『Lunaria Orthodoxy State』……」(Souma)

『Lunaria

Orthodoxy State』.It is a religious state that I ruled by the Pope of

the Lunarian Orthodoxy and the headquarters of 『Lunaria

Orthodoxy』, one of the two humanity’s religion in this continent,

the counterpart of 『Mother Dragon Creed』 that wors.h.i.+p the Mother Dragon in Star Dragon

Mountains. Lunaria Orthodoxy itself is harmless as it touted a principle of

helping the weak, but when it became a nation, the 『Orthodoxy

State』, there were many rumors of their shady movements. Not

long ago, they incited their believers in Amidonia to stage a rebellion and

then intervene by invading Amidonia on the believer’s behalf.

「However,

our country is not hostile to the 『Orthodoxy State』, isn’t it?」(Souma)

『Spies

are not something that is only dispatched to enemy countries. Even in countries

that we want to be friend with, we will dispatch spies to collect information or

negotiation cards.』(Kagetora)

「Hmm……

then, their active movement means……」(Souma)

『Perhaps,

there might be some movement in the near future.』(Kagetora)

「How

troublesome……」(Souma)

I remembered what I had said when

I first met with Roroa.

『That

country hates the Star Dragon Mountains and the Grand Chaos Empire.』(Roroa)

『In

Lunaria Orthodoxy, the recognition of 『Holy Man』 or 『Holy Maiden』  are supposed

to 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)

『It

is unlikely that the Orthodox State will leave Elfrieden Kingdom after its

national strength increased by annexing Amidonia. They will surely make a

contact someday. Then perhaps they will give Souma-dono some t.i.tle like 『Holy

King』, 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 report

was brought to me: “Holy Maiden” of Lunaria Orthodoxy has entered our country.

☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽

A notes about Lunaria Orthodoxy State:

It’s j.a.panese RAW name is: ルナリア正教皇國.

教皇國is the j.a.panese equivalent of Papal States (State of the Church / Civitas

Ecclesiae / 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 lazy

person.

Also, if you spot a mistake, mention it and

I will immediately fix it (at least in one month time :D)