vivarina

Heres chapter 2 of novel 8. Again, its not perfect, and since I translated from the Chinese translation the sentences might be a bit weird, my apologies for that. Big thanks to everyone who answered my questions and clarified my doubts^^.

Just in case anyone was wondering about that seemingly random bicycle memory in the previous chapter:

Since the cliff rescue scene happened at the ending of the previous novel (novel 7), Yuuri might be associating the memory of his father talking about not letting go with what Wolfram had said, which was about not letting go too.

However, its actually open to our own interpretation.

Just one thing is for certain, Takabayashi senseis writing has a deeper meaning than is apparent on the surface, and seemingly random parts are really not that random at all. I can only try my best to get the meanings across XD. Sentences in brackets are explanations, sentences between asterisks * are my own comments, feel free to ignore them.

Novel 8: Chapter 2

Did you say Dai Shimarons annual elimination contest involving running, attacking and defending? The Worlds Best Fighter Tournament?

Flynn Gilbert, in a plain sleeping gown, stumbled out from her room.

.I think that wasnt quite what they said.

Hm maybe I got the name wrong, anyway they kept repeating Shimaron, Shimaron, and the ambassadors had long flowing hair. I think therere further details on the letter.

After getting past all the obstacles to return to Caloria, Flynn soon fell sick and had to rest in bed, maybe due to witnessing the destruction of her homeland by that uncontrolled power, or maybe just because the taxing journey back had exhausted her.But this was hardly surprising, she hadnt planned on falling into the trap laid by Shou Shimaron, or being experimented on by them either. Although her own land was a colony of another kingdom, Flynn, as the wife of regent of the land, was surprisingly strong in the face of so many difficulties.

Then it means that this year is the fourth I didnt notice

Do they hold this event every four years?

Yes. Every kingdom will seek out representatives to participate in Dai Shimarons tournament.

Then its similar to the Olympics?

Flynn placed the letter onto the table, keeping its four corners down with animal-shaped paperweights. She looked awful, even her beautiful light golden hair had lost its original luster.

Flynn, I still think you had better lie down and rest

Dont worry, I should move round a bit. And were not married or lovers, it seems rather inappropriate that you (as a male) should march into my bedroom, doesnt it?

Wolframs mood seemed to improve greatly after hearing that. The first time he met her, he had interrogated me, Whos that woman? Who is she to you? He had even questioned the relationship between Flynn and me.

.the elimination tournament that tests intelligence, speed and skill! The Worlds Best Fighter Tournament is about to begin. Anticipating Caloria to send their best warriors to participate. They already know that we dont have any time to seek out participants at this time (of emergency), and yet they send their ambassador with this news.

What kind of competition is this? Is it like the baseball tournament inJapan, or the Worlds Baseball Tournament or wildcard competitions?

All youre talking about is baseball! Cant you at least mention the World Cup or the Toyota Cup? (The Toyota Cup is an annual international football competition sponsored by theToyotacompany)

And arent you talking only about football?

I was thinking about Muratas own shortcomings, while trying to imagine what the Worlds Best fighter tournament would look like.Ninja Turtles,superheroes of the turtle variety.

(are all superheroes popular in Japan)

Ive never seen the Worlds Best Fighter before either.

Worlds Best Fighter?

Yes, the Worlds Best Fighter, is there anything wrong?

I was only surprised at that term, it sounded like the remains of noodles or the name of a strange exotic dish.

(I think this is due to the Japanese pronunciation)

Caloria has never entered before. Not only because of lack of talent, but also because we dont have any suitable young people to participate in a challenge they can never win.

So you mean that you dont know what the competition is about?

Yes. But I think that the winner of all three events of intelligence, speed and skill will be awarded a special honor.

What do you think it is?

If it was just the awarding of a medal, I think the winner would definitely lose his cool on the podium.

Flynn sighed and said, Its an honor that everyone desires, but no one will ever get it.

Then could it be a wish that will come true?

But what do you mean by a wish? Is it for the well-being of your whole family or for great wealth?

Shibuya, they arent god.

It doesnt matter! Just imagine, you could wish for a land of your own, or to regain the power and wealth of your famlily, or even gold and diamonds. Anything you wish will come true! On the face of it anyway.

Ah, I know! The winner gets to marry the princess of Shimaron? I see, thats so romantic. Going beyond nationalities for love, burning passion, wild wayward youth! *their imaginations are going quite far isnt it? XD*

I see, lets not imagine it like Dragonball, it could be more like ancient Roman gladiators.

No, its impossible, Shimaron doesnt have a princess. And no one has ever thought about such a romantic notion, nor has anyone ever had a wish come true.

Then what does it mean? Are they just playing around with us? Enticing us with rewards, then letting us down?

I pointed at the lower half of the thick and rough letter. But maybe because of the overly cursive writing, I couldnt understand even a word.

Look here, the winners of the first tournament Dai Shimaron. Winners of the second tournament Dai Shimaron. All the winners from the first to the latest tournaments have been Dai Shimaron. Just looking at this, its impossible that anyone else can win!

She rolled the paper up again, smiling self-deprecatingly.

However according to our present condition, there wont be many participants. Most of the kingdoms in the mid-west region of the mainland are busy rebuilding, and the last day for entering is six days later. Getting from here to Donierson would take at least twenty days even if we went at full speed.

Then we just give up without trying?

Thats right, theres nothing we can do about it.

Its such a pity its not easy to get a chance to make a wish. *whyre you still stuck in that wish fantasy of yours Yuuri?*

However my brain started working furiously. Maybe it (the prize) was new baseball shoes, baseball gloves, or lighter equipment than the ones I used. Or maybe shin-guards that could go with(maybe a team in Japan?), protective goggles like those worn by( a professional baseball player in Japan). However there shouldnt be baseball equipment in this world, where would they find the(tree of which the wood is used to create bats)to create baseball bats anyway? Wait, wait, wait, if we thought about the whole (baseball) team, first we must have a clean storing space.

storage.. is it?

Murata who had just figured out what was in my mind, although so surprised he could hardly speak, took the words out of my mouth. I didnt hesitate, instead I just said what was in my head.

What about asking for the box?

Box?

Flynn tilted her head like an innocent girl, it seems like she hadnt quite understood what I meant.

Yes, the box. If we win then we can ask for the box as a prize, maybe theyll be so surprised they wont know how to refuse?

Wolfram was very excited, hitting his knee hard (in realization).

Dai Shimaron has The End of the Wind!

Thats right! Its because they have that box that you want to bring along descendants of the Wincott family isnt it? Because you want to use the Wincott poison to control the person thats the key to The End of the Wind?

According to my faithful G-SHOCK, that had happened about five hundred and four hours ago. Concealing the death of her husband Norman Gilbert, Flynn Gilbert had protected Caloria in the role of the man in the iron mask. She had had dealings with Dai Shimaron secretly despite the objection from Shou Shimaron.

She had stated, Those who had ruled this land in the past concealed the Wincott poison, which can control anyone, in the depths of this estate. Im willing to hand it over, but on several conditions. You must reduce the number of Calorians that are recruited as soldiers for your kingdom, andalso let our youths return to our country (as I can no longer stand losing our own citizens in the wars your own kingdom engage in). In the end Flynn had succeeded in closing the deal, handing over the poison to Dai Shimaron.

At that time, we had also lost our way here. We had concealed our identities by claiming to be Wincott descendants. The jewel I had worn had the same fittings as the insignia (of the Wincotts), which was not surprising. This was because it had been the property of Susanna Julia Wincott, who had escaped to the West and became a Mazoku.

It was then that Flynn had had an idea.

Only those with the blood of the Wincotts can control the humans who had been poisoned. If they could hand over the one with Wincott blood (Flynn had thought it was Yuuri) to Dai Shimaron, they would find it easier to control the person who was the key. If the deal had gone through, the Calorian youths would have been able to s=come back to their country.

Without considering the ethics of that action, her plan had been quite brilliant, the ones who blundered had been Dai Shimaron.

Because they had found two targets, one who was now in a semi-death-like state, the other whose whereabouts was now unknown. Although Conrad had only been hit by the poisoned arrow, he had lost his left arm, and had also been involved in an explosion..

Darn it!

I slammed my fist against the wood-carved table.

That arm definitely belonged to Conrad, I just couldnt figure out why the arm that had been chopped off would wind up in the hands of Shou Shimaron. What puzzled me more was that since it had been the wrong key, why had Conrad been the target?

And

Conrad. Youre still alive arent you?

Would you come back to my side alive?

I had covered both my eyes with my palms without noticing it. I removed my fingers one by one, moving my right hand slowly from my face.

As I exhaled the air slowly from my lungs, I could see Wolframs disappointed expression. Really, he neednt have worried, I wouldnt have cried in front of everyone.

Thats right.

The ruler of Caloria had gripped her own throat with her right hand, looking as if she felt like strangling herself.

I had wanted to use you, I was prepared to betray you to fulfill my own dreams for the kingdom.

Von Bielefeld-kyos sword clanged as he drew his sword out from its sheath a few centimeters. If I consented to it, he would have killed this woman on the spot. Actually he had said this many times, he probably had been serious, but.

Dont be like this, Wolfram, I dont want you to do this. Flynn has. Anyway lets settle this later.

But..!

Its all because of that box!

I cut off her pained voice with (the name of) that cursed object.

If it hadnt been for that The End of the Wind, all this wouldnt have happened. If the humans. If Dai Shimaron hadnt gotten that weapon, they wouldnt have gone after Conrad and Gunter, we wouldnt have lost our way in this strange place, and theres more.

This world had four objects that should never be touched. Men hadnt known what a terrible experience that their ancestors had gone through in sealing that horrifying power, nor did they know that tragic history.

Men now dreamt of claiming that power as their own, and were confident in their ability to control that power.

In the end, they had been so anxious to release that evil power, they had used the wrong key.

If those idiots of Shou Shimaron hadnt experimented with the wrong key, this kingdom (Caloria) wouldnt have been destroyed. Whatre the names of the boxes they have again? Theyve The End of the Wind and.

The End of the Land.

Murata answered in a toneless voice.

Thats right, The End of the Land, they still have it, they still have The End of the Land.

At this moment I felt as if I had had a strong dose of mint, I felt a shudder vibrate through my head. Then, in a voice so calm I couldnt believe it was my own, I said, .it cant fall into the hands of those foolish humans.. only we can have them.

Ah!

My friend responded in a very unnatural yet dramatic way.

Whyre you breathing so heavily, are you high?

Huh? Wh.what? What did I say?!

I had changed back to the weak and clueless Heika, flipping my bangs embarrassedly.

Im not high! You know very well that Im against drinking and smoking.

Im not saying that youre drunk, I meant that youre undergoing a natural high.

Dont think about saying Ive a natural high, I dont even feel sick when Im boarding public transport! Its Wolf who gets seasick!

Really? Then you dont have anything to worry about our school trip after graduation.

Thats right! Anyhow our schools graduation trip involves a full-day bus trip on the first day, unlike your private school that involves a plane trip, so.. huh? Its not the time for discussing transport is it? Back to whats important, we should be talking about the boxes! The boxes..

I never thought you would think of such a good plan, wimp.

Seeing that Wolfram had withdrawn his right hand from his sword, I heaved a sigh of relief. I understood his hatred of Flynn, but I couldnt let him, who hadnt been here at that time, inflict punishment because of how he felt.

The boxes cant fall into the hands of the humans, thats perfectly right. But what do you say we should do? Do we attack Dai Shimaron before they discover how to use them? Anyway the naval forces will gather tomorrow, although they arent fully armed, the emergency task force is made up of highly trained soldiers. If youre willing, I can teach you how to direct an army from the beginning.

You want to teach me? Oh, I didnt mean that! Sorry, I probably used the wrong words! I didnt mean that I dont trust you, I didnt mean that at all! Really, I didnt mean that! Havent I said so before!? I dont want to start a war, not under any circumstances.

Hey, dont yell at me so loudly!

I. well, that elimination contest about running, attacking, defending! The worlds fighting pageant?

Its the elimination contest involving the combination of intelligence, speed, and skill! The Worlds Best Fighter Tournament!

Right, if we win the title of Worlds Best Fighter, I think Dai Shimaron will have to give us the box.

Everyone responded with Ah? and Yii?, the combination was the hilarious Ah yii. (Ah yi means aunt in Chinese, dont know about the original Japanese text, sorry)

Theyll give the box to the champion.!?

Thanks, everyone for being so simultaneous in your disbelief, thanks a lot.

Do you mean it? Yuuri!? Do we have to waste so much time? Actually we can just launch a sudden attack, cant we?

Wait a minute, Caloria doesnt have any potential participants now! Also, didnt I tell you what had happened before? Its impossible to win the championship!

Dont talk at the same time, you two!

Only Murata was beaming without saying a word. I breathed in deeply before saying, Please calm down, you two. First, Wolf, as I had said before, Ill never declare war. Then, Flynn, participating in such tournaments is actually meaningful, even if we dont win we wont suffer any loss, right? Even if we cant find any skilled participants, we cant just give up.

Participating in tournaments is meaningful. Thats the first time I heard of such a thing.

Flynn put a hand to her forehead, bowing her head and trying to calm down.

But didnt I tell you before, even if we went at full speed well have to spend at least twelve days to get there. Even if we start off now, we wont make it for the registration day!

When you said full speed you meant traveling by on land, didnt you?

Thats right.

I said a bit proudly, Then what if we travel by sea? Dont we have that Duchars speedcraft?

TBC