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Completed Nails -Beginning of Your "Heart Beat"- (NSFW)

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
It seems the last time I replied to a Let's Play thread here, I inadvertently killed the thread. So as my penance, I shall write an LP of my own.

5qMN5n0.png


The game is an H-RPG called Nails, released in 1997. It is from a studio called Jam. I've never heard of them, but this may be because they were active five years prior to me having been acquainted with these kinds of Japanese games.

Browsing through their web site through the Internet Archive, it seems they have released around seven games. This is the only RPG they've done.

The installer offered me a choice between truecolour graphics and 256-colour graphics. Personally, I found the truecolour variant kind of bland. The dithering seen in the 256-colour mode adds a certain kind of soul to the graphics, and in general it doesn't look worse at all. (OK, the darker scenes look a bit bad. But the image size is essentially one quarter now, which is a big plus.)

Oh, yes. The game is in Japanese. I am not aware of anyone ever having translated it to English. So I shall translate it for you!

Do mind that I do not completely comprehend the language. When I don't quite grasp a sentence, I will mark it with a yellow squiggly ~~. More squigglies means more unsureness. I'll also sometimes amuse you with some of the more bizarre results of Google Translate. (Fear not, this is not my primary method of translation! Or even my secondary, for that matter.)


Index


Note that each update is multiple posts in length (typically three) and the links above only go to the first post.


Backup

Here are Wayback Machine links in case imgur goes tits up sometime in the future:

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 | Page 8 | Page 9
 
Last edited:

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
Without further ado, I'll start with the opening narration and the bizarre imagery it is supplied with. I know this is not a great start for an LP but I outsourced the translation here to Google, because frankly it did not seem very important to the plot, and the sentences, while not particularly hard to understand, were all rather long which adds certain difficulties to a proper translation. I did verify that the output of GT was understandable and roughly matched my idea of the original too.

(I put a short summary at the bottom of the post anyway.)


OgMXLF5.png


In this world,
There are those with and without nails ...​

fhkbvPA.png


Here is not the Earth,
The Wallestrea continues there.
It is the place where human beings and nail people live.​

mlnxxPV.png


Because the nail people have adapted to the harsh living environment,
Have ears to sense even the eyes that can be seen in the darkness and distant sounds,
It is a human being with stronger and more flexible muscles.

At first sight it is understood that it is a species different from humans,
They are also human beings who have evolved separately from humans,
It is possible to mate with human beings to that proof.​

MlCBBEu.png


The people and the people of the nails kept fighting over each other's right of existence.​

8NLNCb6.png


In order to protect that impotent body,
I took a weapon and wore armor.​

ORDTuRh.png


The nail 's people fleshly cultivated by living with nature,
I sharpened the sharp nails that I gained on the process of evolution.​

AFpXudI.png


The battle ended at any time and was over.
Just keep on exhausting many lives ...

After all this conflict brought about,
Rather than the decision of the ruler of this continent,
There was only a sharp decline and tiredness of the number of individual races.

Here the conflict has become a relatively small scale,
Peace of the beginning will be preserved.​

xtjp3Kb.png


Since several hundred years,
While people and nail people are divided into several nations,
It was to live in each form.

Under a certain state, coexisting,
Under a certain state, avoid mutual exchanges,
Under a certain state, I kept fighting.​

kdUtyXx.png


The Wallestrea continues only by the power which I still have,
It was an era in which its inquiry was questioned.​

MxYSUs6.png


Only the sword and the nail can depend on,
That was the law determined by the times.​

bgap2qG.png


The Kingdom of Altia, the stage for this story,
It is a nation of such a continent.

People and nail people coexist on the surface,
A country difficult to say ideal ...

As if trying such Kingdom of Altia,
Right now the winds of the times are about to blow ...​

fbGFiJy.png


Hopefully, I will protect the god of Zeinhad God ...​


End of narration. The last line should be: "Hopefully, we receive the divine protection of Zeinhad"

TL;DR: Humans split into humans and claw people during their evolutionary path. Humans have armour and weapons. Claw people have exceptional strength and agility and claws. They are hostile to each other.
 
Last edited:

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
4TUOsYg.png


While I was taking screenshots, I realised that this game actually has two four images for the main menu, picked at random. Nice touch.

bs1tI1V.png


[sound effect: two coconut halves being clapped against each other]​

JzpUVKS.png
What an easy day today was, Jamrock!

Minardi, although usually silent, hollered at me from horseback, possibly from the high caused by battle.​

d30HWT2.png
Yeah, it was.

My voice too sounded cheerful.​

d30HWT2.png
I want to reach home already so I can crash in my bed.

Minardi continued the conversation from there.​

JzpUVKS.png
With your skill, they'd treat you like a knight and get you a room of your own, you know.

JzpUVKS.png
You don't *need* to stay in your home village, Zaurusride, in the middle of nowhere.

This game has names that don't romanise easily. I'm using whatever Google translate suggested here, since it seems to be often doing better than I am in that matter.

d30HWT2.png
Haha, well, yeah.

JzpUVKS.png
Is it because you don't want to be separated from her?

d30HWT2.png
N, no.

JzpUVKS.png
Well, never mind then.

Minardi laughed in a lonely way for some reason.​

JzpUVKS.png
Ah, I can see the good old Altamina castle, at last!

xjz4IXQ.png


The Altamina castle soared above Altamina, the Altia kingdom's capital. It had finally come into view.​

Under the reign of king Pharmacy IV, the brushes with the neighbouring states and the claw people continue, but in general life is peaceful.​

Yes, like Richard the third, but this king is named Pharmacy the fourth.

This campaign too was such a brush, but we had a force of 100 knights and the battle finished quick.​

Our side was victorious, of course.​

Neither of us is exactly in a full-scale war right now, but with this victory, we should be able to just relax for a while.​

It's been three months since I've last seen Tim Timaya...​

But it feels like it's been a whole year.​

If I said that out loud, she'd just scold me that I was acting childish again.​

uVKAhF3.png


Zx4erFR.png
Over here, Jamrock.

d30HWT2.png
Sorry. I must've kept you waiting.

Zx4erFR.png
It's busy for you and there's nothing you can do about it.

d30HWT2.png
Mm... Coming home is kind of tough too.

d30HWT2.png
We're being sent on another campaign soon.

Zx4erFR.png
Keep care of yourself. I don't want to become a widow before I'm even married.

d30HWT2.png
I know, I know. I'd never die and leave you.

Zx4erFR.png
I know.

Zx4erFR.png
.......

d30HWT2.png
Are you worried about that?

Zx4erFR.png
Well, that too, but...

Zx4erFR.png
I was wondering why we all fight like this.

d30HWT2.png
Can't be helped. Every country is having a food shortage. Altia is one of the better off ones.

Zx4erFR.png
Yeah, I know that, but...

y...​

eey...​

JzpUVKS.png
Heeey, Jamrock!

XjXYoS2.png


d30HWT2.png
Mm? Oh, sorry. What's wrong?

JzpUVKS.png
I've been trying to get your attention for a while now.

d30HWT2.png
What?

As I turned my head towards where Minardi was nodding at, I saw a soldier, not yet dusty, bearing the same emblems as us; possibly a messenger from the castle.​

Google Translate: When Minardi turned his eyes towards chin hurting, there seemed to be a use from the castle, like the guys after the march, there was a figure of a dirty kingdom guard soldier.

BcLQoOE.png


kclgf3u.png
Is there a Jamrock of Zaurusride in your party?

He seemed to have been calling my name for a while now, moving his gaze back and forth.​

d30HWT2.png
Over here! I am Jamrock of Zaurusride.

kclgf3u.png
.....!

The soldier showed an anxious expression for an instant for some reason.​

kclgf3u.png
Are you Jamrock of Zaurusride?

He said in a hesitating tone when approaching me. ~~

d30HWT2.png
That's what I'm called.

kclgf3u.png
......

When I lower my gaze, the soldier slowly shifted his gaze upwards towards me and said:​

kclgf3u.png
Zaurusride has been attacked by the claw people.

67CJb2k.png
...!

JzpUVKS.png
What? Zaurusride is two days' horseback journey away from Altamina! How on earth did that happen? ~~

kclgf3u.png
It was a nocturnal attack, over in an instant. We only got the reports a short while ago and decided on --

I wasn't going to stay there to listen to the rest.​

I first loosen the reins and then grab them tight.​

The horse neighed, forgot the leisurely stroll he had been on until now, and dashed out of the troop.​

JzpUVKS.png
Wait, Jamrock! I'll come with you!

G2aW5ur.png


The war horse running at full gallop, though a swift steed, felt as slow as a cow to me right now.​

GT: The fighting speed of a war horse that should be running at full speed is felt like a cow.

Still not there...​

Still not there...!​

The familiar road, running from the castle homewards, felt terribly long.​

But on the other hand, apart from never arriving, the hopeful feelings gain strength in my head. ~~~~

GT: On the other hand, however, desiring feelings of mind bothers even not to arrive forever.

As long as I'm still not there, I can keep my hopes up.​

...no!​

I shook off the feelings that were swelling inside me.​

JzpUVKS.png
Jamrock, are you okay?

I hadn't noticed that the horse had slowed down. Minardi had caught up to me and was now riding next to me.​

d30HWT2.png
Yeah.

Such a short answer was the best I could do.​

JzpUVKS.png
I can see it now.

d30HWT2.png
.........

GGmsv0j.png


The village of Zaurusride was visible ahead of us.​

You could see it at a glance. The smoke rising was not from the hearths cooking supper, but from the light of torches... ~~

GT: You can see at a glance that you are standing before your eyes is not the smoke of the evening but the light of the torch

d30HWT2.png
Dad, Mum...

d30HWT2.png
Everyone...

d30HWT2.png
Tim Timaya...

d30HWT2.png
Please be safe...


Do you guys need smaller character icons?
 
Last edited:

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
Here's the glorified slideshow that passed for opening animations those days. Not Safe For Work.



After the OP, the prologue continues.

bAqCrxO.png


Five years later...​

W4OkP9i.png


Castle town of Altamina.​

HVsrmQ4.png


[SFX: clashing sounds]​

d30HWT2.png
Okay, everybody pause now!

The students stopped at once.​

d30HWT2.png
I will teach you a higher level technique today.

I take the bokken (wooden sword) by my side.​

It feels light, of course.​

In the middle of the drill hall, in the space the students had opened up for me, I stand facing a practice pole.​

GT: In the middle of the teaching place the students opened, they confront Paul for practice.

I take a posture with my sword and calm my breath. ~~

[SFX: heartbeat]​

I feel the strength emanating inside my body all the way from my heels.​

I collect it to my abdomen.​

67CJb2k.png
Haa!

As I exhaled, my arms sprang up and swung downwards.​

vaxlOCi.png
Sliced ... with a bokken?

The practice pole, machined from hardwood, was sliced from the middle.​

d30HWT2.png
If you steady your breath and release the strength within you in an explosive manner, you will learn to do this.

d30HWT2.png
It is a technique called the palpitation stir. It's not of much use in the battlefield since you don't generally have the time to get your breath right. ~~

GT: It is a technique called beating fetal movement.

As I was finishing my speech, the church bells rang to inform of the evening hour.​

d30HWT2.png
Okay, that's it for today. Remember to practise.

With the standard greetings I raise my hand, and the students bow and leave in small groups.​

GT: While raising a formal phrase, raising one hand, the students bow and scatter into three or five generations.

I had already grown used to my routine.​

d30HWT2.png
Phew.

I finish up my work in the fencing dojo, and head home.​

jCJMSkz.png


The same time as always, the same route home as always.​

The time has been still like this for over two years now.​

Three years since the attack of the claw people.​

I have been fighting to shake free from everything.​

My work primarily has involved keeping the rebellion of the claw people in check.​

I've only been able to forget everything when I'm swinging my sword.​

My sword, which failed to protect Tim Timaya.​

When I finally got tired of swinging it, I decided to leave the chivalry.​

That was the time when...​

xlmVyHl.png


8m9knWs.png
So, I can't make you change your mind in any way?

d30HWT2.png
That is so.

8m9knWs.png
You're trusted and you have talent. There's nobody else able to do the job of the captain of the chivalry.

d30HWT2.png
I'm terribly sorry.

8m9knWs.png
Is it the events of three years ago?

d30HWT2.png
........

8m9knWs.png
Sorry, my question was impolite, please take no offence.

d30HWT2.png
Not at all.

8m9knWs.png
But, it is regrettable...

d30HWT2.png
........

KLx27FZ.png


zxMn5GL.png
Your majesty, wasn't the position of the fencing instructor still open?

This fellow is named Minister Galiba

8m9knWs.png
? Hm ... I think it was ...

zxMn5GL.png
Jamrock, wouldn't you stay here at the castle for a while, for the sake of the younger generation?

GT: Are you planning to stay in the castle for a while because of backwards?

d30HWT2.png
But...

zxMn5GL.png
It's not that I cannot comprehend your feelings. However, would leaving the castle really make much difference?

d30HWT2.png
.......

zxMn5GL.png
As a fencing instructor, you shouldn't need to set foot on the battlefield. How about it? Will you accept the position?

GT: If swordsmanship is south, it will not be on the battlefield. How is it? Will you take over?

d30HWT2.png
I am most grateful for your kindness, so much that I lack words for it.

zxMn5GL.png
Then, will you take the position?

d30HWT2.png
Yes.

zxMn5GL.png
Your majesty, will you appoint Jamrock?

8m9knWs.png
Hm, well then, Jamrock. I shall appoint you to the position of Altia kingdom's fencing instructor.

d30HWT2.png
I accept the position.

8D0Tj6h.png


As I wished to bid farewell to the battlefield, I had no reason to refuse.​

It is thanks to minister Galiba and king Pharmacy IV, that I can keep living like this. I am unskilled in all other pursuits, after all.​

Two years after that...​

I've finally come accustomed to this life.​

To be honest, I haven't managed to unbind myself completely of my past, nor do I think that I have.​

Just that as time went by, the ready-to-burst, piercing rage had become a part of me.​

Whether that is a good thing or not, I do not know.​

While lost in thought, I heard my footsteps echo in the desolate alley I was passing.​

It was a normal day like that. Or should have been.​

Bump!​

wQBWoTG.png
Kyah!

d30HWT2.png
...!!

Lost in thought, I felt a sudden impact hit my back, and I quickly turned around.​

FklVvXb.png


It seems she had bumped into me and fallen down.​

d30HWT2.png
Sorry. Are you okay?

It was probably her that bumped into me, but I still apologised to the girl on the ground.​

She was probably only around fifteen years old. Not the kind of girl that would loiter around the town this late.​

She seemed to be frightened, but she eventually turned her eyes towards me.​

That moment, the fright in her eyes suddenly disappeared.​

wQBWoTG.png
Ah, er ...

I hear loud footsteps approaching.​

OFnqORj.png


Four men surround us.​

wQBWoTG.png
Err ...

I hold back the girl, who is trying to say something.​

One of the four men, possibly the leader, spoke to me.​

j2r6LYo.png
How 'bout you give the girl to us?

Well, what should I do?​

  1. Refuse
  2. Rile them up

Should I let the Codexian hivemind decide?
 

Dayyālu

Arcane
Joined
Jul 1, 2012
Messages
4,465
Location
Shaper Crypt
I am weirdly amused by those games. A least, when I experience them on the Playground.

Let's hope you keep up and this is stoopid as it looks. Age of Decadence taught me how to approach such things.

2) RILE THEM UP

OFnqORj.png


Standard Codexers in their traditional hunting dress
 

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
I'm not sure this is stupid, at least not terribly so. But what do I know, this is my first time playing this and I only finished the prologue literally last Friday.

I think the prose is pretty decent quality though.

(It was a long prologue. I estimate that we're only about 20 % into it right now.)

"Rile them up" *click*​

d30HWT2.png
How predictable of you.

j2r6LYo.png
All you have is a single wooden sword. I don't know which school's pupil you are, but do you really think that you stand a chance against the four of us?

d30HWT2.png
I guess you know what I'll say next, since we're following the script and all?

Dude, you suck at riling people up.

I felt the bloodlust swelling around me. These guys are for real.​

They unsheathe their swords.​

lXR61oH.png


Enemy encounter!

2HwGeE5.png


Our enemies are, in order: Mysterious man A, Mysterious man B, Mysterious man C, and Mysterious man D. One of each.

You look a bit alike, are you cousins or something?

I guess I'll spend this post to tell you of the combat system/interface.

m7PHJGr.png


We have 150 hit points (called 'damage points' in the game), and 80 of something called 'work points'. I'm not sure what the work points are for but I guess we'll die or something if they run out.

The options in the menu are:

Attack
Defend
Special attacks
Persuade
Retreat​

Attacking and defending and the others all take a single work point.

The Special attacks submenu has three items. They're fancy attacks, as I'm sure you can guess from the name.

OK, I lied. It's not named "Special attacks", but that Palpitation Stir crap I made up in my last post. Beating Foetal Movements, what Google called them. Ah, hell. I'll just call them "Heartbeat attacks" from now on, since if you open the menu, you get a heartbeat sound effect with it.

I'll come back to them later, since they're not exactly needed in these difficult prologue fights. They attack multiple enemies at once or attack with more damage, but use more work points.

What this game suffers from is that it does not respond to any keyboard commands. I don't really get why, but a lot of (possibly even the majority of) Japanese game studios of this sort made games that take zero or near-zero keyboard input ever since they transitioned to Win95. Keyboard control only became a certainty around 2001 or 2002.

Let's select "Attack" *click*

Then I'm supposed to click on the enemy I wish to attack. Let's select Mysterious Man A from the rightmost window. *click*

Are you sure? Left click if OK, right click to cancel. *click*

VfnL1j9.png


Shall we proceed with the plan? [Y/N] *click*


Jamrock attacks Mysterious Man A! *click*

Mysterious Man A gets 25 damage! Mysterious Man A falls down! *click*

Mysterious Man C attacks Jamrock with a sword! *click*

Jamrock takes 1 damage! *click*

Mysterious Man B attacks Jamrock with a sword! *click*

Jamrock parries! *click*

Mysterious Man D attacks Jamrock with a sword! *click*

But he misses! *click*

dNXFjU7.png


...And Then There Were Three...

I mean, this would be quite okay if I had a gamepad or something but all this clicking makes me mad.

Anyway, back to exploring the interface.

I click the purple button that says P1 to open a handy status window.

lUx9OAU.png


"Hey, wait, I can't see a thing with all those windows open!" you say.

Hold on, let me give you an uncropped screenshot.

OBjyng6.png

You see, this game runs as a fullscreen window. I can move the subwindows to the empty space, like this:

37wFYHH.png

Much better, isn't it?

Anyway, for the sake of this LP, I'll keep the cramped view.

The orange sphere labelled 'SYS' opens up the system menu where I can load and exit and other stuff.

The one labelled 'WIN' gives me some options about the window settings I just introduced.

'MAP' gives, well, a map. It is non-clickable AFAIK.

CylhHdd.png


In the north near the river is the Altamina castle town. The river flows into the Sea of Dithering in the northwest.

The downwards-pointing arrowhead on the lower right enters fast-forward mode. It is disabled during battle.

Anyway, back to the battle at hand. I defeat Mysterious Man B and Mysterious Man C.

hhTaf0g.png


Mysterious Man D looks kind of tough, so I think I'll try retreating?


Jamrock tries to escape!

But the path is blocked!

Oh, guess I'll have to fight you too then.

zIr9V3T.png


Victory!

Jamrock recovers full hit points

tUwwlu8.png


j2r6LYo.png
Khh...

Though all I had was a wooden sword, the men sustained pretty heavy wounds and lied battered on the ground.​

d30HWT2.png
Want some more? I'd prefer you still be able to walk home.

j2r6LYo.png
Damn... let's go!

Having received the command, the men disappear in a dash.​

d30HWT2.png
.........

Crossing swords makes my blood heat up again.​

This moment alone makes me feel whole.​

.......​

Oh right, that girl they were chasing...​

wftCZU4.png


The girl was still sitting there, her eyes wide open in blank amazement​

Well, what should I do?​

  1. Escort her home
  2. Ignore her and leave
 
Last edited:

Dayyālu

Arcane
Joined
Jul 1, 2012
Messages
4,465
Location
Shaper Crypt
Of course, we

1) ESCORT HER HOME

Can't wait to get a shiv in the back. If that does not happen I'll write a letter of complaints that this game is not hardcore enough.
 

abnaxus

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Dec 31, 2010
Messages
10,849
Location
Fiernes
Guess this is a doujin?

Married protagonist, eh? Expect the village to be attacked and wife killed before long.
 

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
No, not a doujin game. A proper commercial game.


d30HWT2.png
...Are you okay?

wQBWoTG.png
Oh, yes. Er... thank you!

The girl immediately stood up and bowed to me.​

d30HWT2.png
It's like you're asking to be assaulted, if you walk around outside at this hour.

wQBWoTG.png
Yes.

The Japanese word 'hai' is often closer to 'understood' than 'yes' but I'll keep it translating it as 'yes' since 'understood' sounds too formal.

TTUkr0k.png


d30HWT2.png
Well, those guys did not really seem like assaulters of that sort. Where is your house? I'll escort you. ~~

wQBWoTG.png
Er, ah, err...

She stumbles with her words. Probably to be expected, after being chased by that bunch.​

d30HWT2.png
My name is Jamrock. I'm employed as the royal fencing instructor currently. I'm not a suspicious guy or anything.

wQBWoTG.png
Err, well, no, I didn't mean that!

d30HWT2.png
...?

wQBWoTG.png
Ahh... I ... don't remember. My house. Or who I am.

d30HWT2.png
...?

oTxqHPa.png


wQBWoTG.png
........

The girl in front of my eyes only remembered a single thing: that her name was Minvi.​

When she came to earlier this evening, she was in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the town, standing all alone, which that bunch noticed and started chasing her, she says. ~~

She has no recollection of earlier things.​

Until she bumped into me, the only thing she had been doing was fleeing from them.​

wQBWoTG.png
Urk ... *cough cough cough*!

d30HWT2.png
Look, calm down when you eat.

wQBWoTG.png
So -- Sorry...

wQBWoTG.png
*cough cough cough*!

d30HWT2.png
........

I decided to bring this girl, who lacked any memory except of the flight, to my house for the time being.​

She had possibly not eaten for the whole day, or at least for the time she had been running. This was already the third bowl of stew that was emptied.​

By the way, I'm still not through my first bowl.​

d30HWT2.png
She gives no hint of where she's from ... ~~

GT: There is no line like a girlfriend

wQBWoTG.png
Er, pardon?

I was supposed to say that too quietly for her to hear, but now she had her eyes looking at me, blinking with surprise.​

MCREs3a.png


How should I answer?​

  1. Never mind, just talking to myself.
  2. You sure have a good appetite
  3. Tell the truth

I'll answer this one. 3. Tell the truth.

d30HWT2.png
You give no hint of where you're from ...

I rephrased what I had previously said.​

wQBWoTG.png
Oh, you never know. ~~

wQBWoTG.png
I don't care if you end up thinking, "She turned out to be the sole daughter of a rich family and I really should have been a bit nicer to her"

GT: I was the only monolayer of the monkey monkey, I should have kept it at that time, I do not even know what I thought!

Yes, Google. You grasped that sentence perfectly. Well done.

With her puffing her cheeks and acting all sulky, I couldn't help laughing.​

GT: I smiled unexpectedly to a girl who showed a slight cheek inflating and looking like a shit.

I wouldn't believe that she'd lost her memory, with her acting like this.​

wQBWoTG.png
Thank you for the meal.

d30HWT2.png
Yeah...

I had forgotten how to answer to something like that so I ended up stumbling with my words.​

wQBWoTG.png
*chuckle*

d30HWT2.png
You're there laughing all carefree, but I could be the same sort of guy as the ones who were chasing you, couldn't I?

GT: I'm laughing at the brain weather, but I guess it might be the same as the other guys earlier?

wQBWoTG.png
Oh, I'm safe all right.

She seemed brimming with confidence.​

wQBWoTG.png
I have a real good eye for people, I think.

d30HWT2.png
How can you be so sure?

wQBWoTG.png
When I saw those people in the market, I knew that they'd end up chasing me, and when I saw you, I knew that you'd for sure save me.

d30HWT2.png
I think you're making too much of those two events.

wQBWoTG.png
That's why I said I'm safe.

Minvi smiled at me, without a sliver of doubt in her mind.​

I sighed, thinking that she was possibly just leading me around by the nose.​

GT: I spit unexpectedly. It seems that somehow it is taken over by the boss.

d30HWT2.png
Anyway, don't you have any memory, clue, anything where we could start from?

She only carried a single holy symbol, a common one that could be found anywhere. No other personal belongings.​

I guess I have nothing else but to trust her memory.​

wQBWoTG.png
Er ... well...

She closed her eyes and cast her face down, as if probing her inner self.​

I don't know how long she spent there probing herself. It felt like a quite long time, but it could have been quite short too.​

Just when I was thinking that the awkward silence had continued for quite a while, Minvi suddenly lifted her face back up.​

wQBWoTG.png
Sorry. I can't remember anything at all.

d30HWT2.png
Oh.

wQBWoTG.png
.......

Minvi cast her face down again, this time with a mournful expression.​

She seemed terribly fragile, so much that I could not connect her to the girl that was merrily eating at my table just a bit earlier.​

d30HWT2.png
She's not exactly someone I'd like to associate with, but ...

I said to Minvi with a sigh.​

d30HWT2.png
There's a good fortune-teller in this town. Maybe she can tell you something. Let's go there early tomorrow morning.

wQBWoTG.png
Ah ... Yes.

Her sad expression was swept away and for some reason, I felt relief.​

I felt awkward because of that, so I continued with rapid speech.​

d30HWT2.png
Er, she's a spiteful old hag and I'd rather not have anything to do with her, but at this point, we don't really have a choice.

wQBWoTG.png
*chuckle*

Minvi chuckled a bit. I think she found me funny.​

The earlier feeling of relief I found so irritating, grew stronger.​

d30HWT2.png
Tomorrow's an early rise so let's head to bed already. The old hag's stall seems to be thriving, so we may have to stand in queue for a while.

wQBWoTG.png
Yes.

r1Bct5n.png


I gave my bed to Minvi and sat on a chair staring at a corner of my apartment.​

There, wrapped in a torn cloth, leaned a cylinder-shaped thing, almost my height.​

I walk there and take it into my hand, carefully so that I won't wake up Minvi.​

A mouldy smell erupts from the cloth.​

I touch the leather straps that bind it halfway up.​

I neglect to loosen the ornamented straps and they tear off with a dull sound. ~~~

I peel off the cloth and reveal a sword from beneath.​

Grab the handle, and slide off the tight-fitting scabbard.​

The oil I spread on the blade two years ago clings between the sword and the scabbard.​

*slide*​

My face reflects with a blur on the drawn-out blade.​

GT: In my draft sweetheart, my face appears dull.

Neither the grip nor the scabbard have ornamentation. Only the silvery steel, now revealed, speaks of the sword's top quality. ~~

I verify that neither side has rust, and put the sword back in its scabbard again.​

pf6E8sk.png


wQBWoTG.png
Ohh, this town has quite a bit of bustle.

d30HWT2.png
Well, it is the capital after all. Don't you live here?

wQBWoTG.png
Er, I'm not sure. But I feel like I'm seeing it for the first time.

d30HWT2.png
Anyway, the place we're looking for ... should be this way I guess...

wQBWoTG.png
Don't you know?

Minvi smiled mischievously when she said that.​

d30HWT2.png
I was hoping I'd never have to visit that place again.

wQBWoTG.png
Huh? That thing on your back...

What Minvi was pointing at was my previously-beloved sword, which had not seen sunlight in two years.​

GT: There was my former love sword in Miniwi 's finger pointing towards sunlight for the first time in two years.

d30HWT2.png
This?

wQBWoTG.png
Yeah, that's a real one, isn't it?

d30HWT2.png
Yeah, it's tough with a wooden sword if we happen to run into someone who has more skill than the bunch from yesterday...

While we were talking, we arrived to a place where there were several tents in a row.​

I find the one we're looking for immediately.​

It did by no means stand out. Just that it was a tent I had seen so many times that I had been fed up with it already. ~~

GT: There is not particularly conspicuous place. It's simply because it is a tender-looking tent.

In front of the tent, there was a sign, saying "fortune-telling, consultations"​

It seems there was no customer inside. I guess it paid off to come so early.​

d30HWT2.png
I'm coming in, Mrs Harlin.

'Mrs' is way wrong here. The Japanese 'baasan' is a pretty neutral or respectful term for an elderly woman. I previously translated it as 'old hag' though...

koNyG64.png
Ooh, I was wondering when you'd arrive. Come in.

A hoarse voice responded from the tent. It seems that that monster hag was still alive.​

After I had entered the tent, Minvi came in with her shoulders in.​

mQ7uLqu.png


The tent was the size of a small house. In the middle was a table with a crystal ball on top, and an old woman was there sitting, facing the ball.​

d30HWT2.png
Long time no see, old hag.

As I said above, this is a very respectful 'old hag'

koNyG64.png
You look healthy. And it seems you've picked up a girl too. Did your old wounds finally heal? ~~

wQBWoTG.png
Old ... wounds?

d30HWT2.png
If you want to live longer, don't blabber needlessly, old hag.

koNyG64.png
Yees, it would be pointless to test your sword on me, with that two-year pause. ~~

d30HWT2.png
A wise choice.

koNyG64.png
Well, let's cut the jokes. What did you come here for? Do you want to know your compatibility with the girl? It's 30 % off today.

wQBWoTG.png
Eh, err, no...

d30HWT2.png
Old hag, this is serious.

The old hag was just laughing detachedly, not really concerned with what I was saying. ~~

GT: But this grandmother is laughing all day with a plan like my breathless wind.

Though I've gotten used to her behaviour, it still makes me angry.​

FKetmdU.png


So I ...​

  1. Become angry
  2. Calm down
 

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
2. Calm down. *click*

Right.​

If I keep getting angry at her every time, my body'll only break.​

koNyG64.png
Hm hm, it seems your discipline has improved. Well done. Just as one can expect from the number one captain candidate of the chivalry.

d30HWT2.png
Old hag, shall we stop with the chit-chat?

koNyG64.png
What, how boring. Mocking you is this elderly woman's lone fun pastime.

This is why I did not want to ask for her help.​

d30HWT2.png
I'll only tell you this once so listen.

I summarised everything that had happened thus far to Harlin. The men who were chasing Minvi, that she had lost her memory, and that we didn't really have anything to work with either.​

I was not sure whether she was even listening. Well, normally, if I tell someone to /not/ listen, she'll most certainly listen, but ... Harlin spent the whole time gazing at the crystal ball without a single movement. ~~~

d30HWT2.png
...and that's it in a nutshell.

koNyG64.png
Hm.

wQBWoTG.png
.......

d30HWT2.png
Can you tell us something, old hag?

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Miss, could you come here for a bit?

wQBWoTG.png
Mm? Ah, yes.

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Peek into this crystal ball.

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Yes.

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Stay put for a while.

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Yes.

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You will feel your strength draining.

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Yes.

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Try to slowly recall yesterday.

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Yes.

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And then, the day before that.

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Ye...

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Oww!

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Minvi?

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My ... my head!

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Can't remember?

d30HWT2.png
Harlin, what did you do to Minvi?

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Don't rush, it'll stop in a moment.

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Ow ... it hurts ... oo... oh?

Minvi's expression changed from suffering to a daze, and she stood up.​

wQBWoTG.png
What happened to me?

koNyG64.png
Hmm ... she seems to have her memories sealed off with a rather strong spell.

d30HWT2.png
A spell?

koNyG64.png
Yes. They call it hypnosis. It puts people into a half asleep state, and then they can instil orders to people.

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Jamrock, you should escort this girl.

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Escort where? We still don't know.

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She's one of those Zeinhad ones, isn't she?

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Are you talking about the holy symbol? Half of the population is carrying one just like that.

koNyG64.png
No, this holy symbol is special. Only five have one in this country.

d30HWT2.png
W... what?

koNyG64.png
She seems to be a miko of the Zeinhad church, and a pretty high-ranking one at that.

This game for some reason has appropriated some shinto terms for the religion. 'Miko' would mean a shrine maiden. I guess I could translate it as a plain 'priestess' but something about that feels off.

wQBWoTG.png
Er ... what do you mean by that?

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A normal holy symbol would be made of slightly different materials than this one.

d30HWT2.png
Really?

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Only the mikos who have much talent and training, and pass a test may wear it. Only around one of every hundred pass.

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I've never heard of that.

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It's one of the secrets of the Zeinhad church.

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How do you know that?

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Who do you take me for?

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I see.

d30HWT2.png
Anyway, it seems we now know where to go. Good. ~~

wQBWoTG.png
Huh? Err ...

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If Minvi is indeed a high-ranking miko of the Zeinhad church, if we just find a temple, we should get some clues, right?

koNyG64.png
Yes. As it's a church, the people there should know how to handle that kind of spells. But, for the same reason, you should be careful in your journey.

d30HWT2.png
I know. It's clear that some ruffians like yesterday's may attack us.

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Is the fee for your services still the same?

I say, while untangling my pursestrings.​

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Yes. Oh by the way, Jamrock ...

d30HWT2.png
...?

wQBWoTG.png
...?

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It was in the announcements this morning, but ...

At this moment, the tent's door flung wide open, and several soldiers marched in. ~~

NCNLatT.png


Is that a fancy bowl or a second crystal ball in the background?

koWVu7A.png
We received a report that Lady Minvi, the number one in line of succession to the role of church temple priest, and her abductor, Jamrock, are here. We're coming in! ~~

Gosh that is a long string of kanji. I usually see five or six kanji in a row at most, but this one is fourteen kanji ...

wQBWoTG.png
Huh!?

d30HWT2.png
What!?

OK, how did I get into *this* mess?

koWVu7A.png
You're Jamrock, aren't you? We're arresting you. Let Lady Minvi go and surrender yourself!

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[continuing from her last line] You're considered to have abducted Minvi, so watch out.

d30HWT2.png
Sheesh. Couldn't have told us that earlier?

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I was ordered to use force if you resist. So be prepared!

The sound of drawn swords echoes.​

They're carrying spears in the picture though.

koNyG64.png
Would you mind not shedding blood in my shop?

When saying that, she pulled a string that was dangling next to her seat.​

koWVu7A.png
...What!?

Their voices were muffled by the tent fabric falling from above. ~~

KVV3riz.png


wQBWoTG.png
I ... can't see a thing?

d30HWT2.png
You're pretty sly, you know.

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If you exit from the back, you'll find a narrow road. You should use it.

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I'll be indebted to you.

koNyG64.png
Well, try not to get caught first.

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Huh? Kyah!? [surprised shriek]

I grabbed Minvi's hand and left the place, with Harlin's words on my mind.​

qpbSurR.png


d30HWT2.png
Huh, here too?

I caught sight of soldiers apparently searching for us all over the main street.​

wQBWoTG.png
Er, if ... if I just explained the situation to them, shouldn't it all work out?

d30HWT2.png
With your lost memory? They'd just call you a fake and it would not end up well.

wQBWoTG.png
...urgh

d30HWT2.png
Even if they were to believe you, with the relations between the church and the royal palace being what they are... We'd just be used as bargaining chips for their political games.

GT: Even if Yoshimabe overshadows me, the relationship between the church and the royal palace is never better. It will be punchy to be used for bored political bargaining.

wQBWoTG.png
Is that so?

d30HWT2.png
So for now, the safe thing to do is to get you to Zeinhad temple and get my name cleared there...

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Yes.

d30HWT2.png
Now that that's decided, I want to get out of here all the more...

vqYs2f1.png


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Over here! They're over here!

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!?

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Minvi! Over here!

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Kya!?

xoRl8LJ.png


I pull her arm with all my strength to direct her out of the main street.​

The guards at the gate seem to have noticed the turmoil too, and although the situation has them confused, they have readied their spears.​

Right now, I ...​

  1. Bulldoze our way through
  2. Think of a way
  3. Surrender

Well, it doesn't really matter, the game railroads us anyway. 2. Think of a way.

I could easily break through if I didn't mind slaying the soldiers one by one, but without bloodshed? Impossible.​

What should I do?​

Besides, even if we did get out of here, it'll take a whole day to get to the Zeinhad temple by foot.​

I'm used to marching, but Minvi? She probably couldn't handle the trip.​

How should I transport her then? ~~

This is not the time to think about that...​

koNyG64.png
You look like you're having trouble, Jamrock.

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Old hag!?

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Oh, Harlin-san.

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I figured you'd need some kind of transportation. Treat it as a farewell gift.

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Neeeigh.

She was pulling a horse.​

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Thanks, I'll make it up to you for sure.

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Oh, you've already made up for it.

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...?

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You left your purse in my tent.

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I don't think you know what 'gift' means...

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Is this the correct time to argue about that?

I notice some guards running towards us.​

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Anyway, thanks.

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Mm. I packed you some supplies too.

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Minvi! Get up on the horse!

I did not care to talk to Harlin any more. As I jump onto the horse, I pull Minvi up there too.​

wQBWoTG.png
Yes?

I made sure that Minvi was well seated behind me, and pulled the reins tight.​

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Kya!?

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Be careful on your trip!

I wasn't sure whether she actually meant it, but I left her encouragement behind and forced the horse to a gallop.​

JtLEJz0.png


The town gates were soon in my view.​

You could see the startled expression of the guards as they ready their spears and come to grasp the situation.​

I mustn't use my sword on them.​

I prepare for the coming moment by holding the reins short.​

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Haa!

I clasp the reins, lower my body, and as the horse lowers his, I move my weight back to the front again. ~~

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Ah! I'm falling! I'll fall!

Oh right, I forgot that Minvi was on the horse too.​

The horse kicks his front hooves into the air, exposing his belly right as we're about to pass the guards.​

RCaEMXz.png
Uwaa!?

The sudden hoof attack from the horse made the guards shout from surprise.​

Following the horse's movements, I move my weight again.​

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Kyaaaaa!

Due to Minvi's position, the horse's hind legs dragged the ground as he made his jump, but we still somehow made it.​

Doka!​

The horse landed, taking a shock to his body.​

AtBhQ7o.png


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Oww... I hit my nose real hard...

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Suck it up.

We just need to sprint now, without looking back.​

XDcAvYc.png


The tumult of Altamina castle town was soon left behind.​
 

leino

Cipher
Joined
Oct 14, 2014
Messages
127
Location
rats' alley
d30HWT2.png
Even if they were to believe you, with the relations between the church and the royal palace being what they are... We'd just be used as bargaining chips for their political games.


GT: Even if Yoshimabe overshadows me, the relationship between the church and the royal palace is never better. It will be punchy to be used for bored political bargaining.

:lol:
also i'm glad we didn't get angry with the old crone.
 
Last edited:

abnaxus

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Dec 31, 2010
Messages
10,849
Location
Fiernes
It's ironic how this game looks like something made by a contemporay western indie like Hanako Games. Almost surreal.
 

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
uK4Edzp.png


We ran the horse for three koku after we left Altamina, up until when the sun was already setting, and then we took a rest.​

Koku is an old Japanese time unit. About two hours in modern units, if I've understood correctly.

d30HWT2.png
They probably can't track us any more as we're this far.

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Yes.

Minvi, still anxious, was still clutching my cloak when replying.​

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The horse we got was pretty good, which was fortunate, but I am a bit miffed that it cost me a whole month's wages.

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A whole month's wages ... eh? How will you survive from now?

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It's not like I'm going to get paid next month anyway, being the kidnapper of the number one prospect to the temple priest and all...

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...That's not what I meant.

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I can't really hope for any advance payments unless I first bring you to the temple and get proved innocent again.

I don't really know why, but Google Translate suddenly changed its 'Zeinhad' to 'Zyngdad' for this line. I'm not displeased with the change.

wQBWoTG.png
.......

d30HWT2.png
It was thoughtful of the old hag to pack in food too, so we don't have to starve before we get to the church.

GT: My wife kept his attention and kept the food, so I was not supposed to not eat without drinking until I got to church.

wQBWoTG.png
The situation sure turned out bad for some reason...

d30HWT2.png
Well, as I'm the kidnapper of successor candidate number one of the temple church, I figured it'd turn out something like this.

String of sixteen kanji... sheesh. I haven't the faintest clue why they say 'temple church' or otherwise seem to swap between 'temple' and 'church' freely.

wQBWoTG.png
Ohh...

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I don't really understand it all yet, but that's probably how it is.

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What is?

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Er .. The temple church successor candidate number one part.

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......

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Well, if someone asked me, "who on earth would understand something like that?" I wouldn't know how to answer. ~~~~

GT: Well then, if anyone tells me who they are feeling ... ... I'm in trouble.

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The thought frightens me a bit.

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Frightens?

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Yes. What was I like, the previous me I'm now unfamiliar with.

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What happens to me if I get my memories back?

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.......

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Those kinds of thoughts frighten me.

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Ahaha, what am I saying?

Minvi sparked an awkward smile.​

nHvZ83W.png


In response to her, I say:​

  1. People don't change just because they get a title.
  2. Minvi is Minvi.
  3. Your previous self is your true self.

d30HWT2.png
People don't change just because they get a title.

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Yeah ... you're right...

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That's how it must be...

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Thank you, Jamrock-san.

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.......

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Sorry! For saying these strange things.

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No, not at all.

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.......

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Err...

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Er ... Jamrock ... san

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What?

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What about your past? What does it contain?

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........

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You know, back with that old fortune-teller lady, she seemed to know you well.

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That you were the number one choice for being the captain of the chivalry or...

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I'd like to know stuff like that, more of you.

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.......

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We're making camp here today.

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Huh?

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At this rate, we should arrive at the Zeinhad temple by tomorrow evening. We shouldn't force ourself to a quicker pace.

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Er ... err?

I half ignore Minvi and get down from the horse.​

Not caring about Minvi's confused expression, I tie the reins to a nearby tree and take down the luggage.​

3dvTqiq.png


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Did you hear what I said?

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.......

My past, huh?​

My chest hurts and I wish to scream out loud. That sort of loneliness pervades me if I just think of my past.​

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.......

I could see both the feelings of awkwardness and appeal in her eyes.​

d30HWT2.png
.......

v15MB6w.png


So, how should I answer?​

  1. What do you want to know?
  2. [silence]

If I choose the other option, she'll wander off into the woods and run across some soldiers and I'll have a lot more to translate.

d30HWT2.png
What do you want to know?

Minvi breathed a sigh of relief thanks to those words.​

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Er, well, then ... how about your family?

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They're dead. Five years ago.

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What?

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In a night raid of the claw people. I was on a campaign in a neighbouring country then, and couldn't make it back in time.

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S--Sorry!

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It doesn't matter, it's a thing of the past...

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B-but...

She looks at me with an apologetic face.​

Silence envelops us.​

...no.​

I can hear the faint sound of the grass rustling ... from multiple directions.​

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Er ... I'm sorry.

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Shush!

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What?

utTvmCN.png


Grrrowwl​

In the darkness, I saw ten gleaming pairs of eyes.​

wQBWoTG.png
Kya!?

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Stray dogs, huh. And this many. Going to be a bit bothersome.

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Stand back.

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Yes!

At this point, there's a fight with two stray dogs as the opponent. They go down easily.

Jamrock recovers all of his hitpoints after each fight, it seems.

toegUmm.png
Grrrrowl.

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Still more?

E2naFCy.png


Another fight, three stray dogs...

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Sheesh. There's no end to these!

I grab a better hold of my sword, and turn my eyes at the wild dogs seemingly appearing from nowhere, one after another.​

toegUmm.png
Growl!

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Kyaaaa!

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...!?

Quite a few wild dogs had been already met their death, but the several that were left were approaching Minvi with their jaws ready.​

toegUmm.png
Growl!

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Noooo!

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Minvi!?

Unpleasant memories fill my head.​

Those feelings I felt five years ago...​

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Ooooo!

*gash*​

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Jamrock-san!?

Jaws sink into the arm I had extended.​

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Kuh...

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Stay back!

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B-but...

Minvi had a worried look. I confront the dogs, protecting her.​

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Yeah, four dogs now. Hitpoints recovered, work points not so much.

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Jamrock-san!!

I somehow managed to get rid of the dogs.​

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Khh...

That wound ... has been bleeding for a while ...​

wQBWoTG.png
Jamrock-san! Are you okay!?

d30HWT2.png
Yeah ... sort of ...

I can hear from my own voice that I'm not exactly okay.​

I lost too much blood. It's not a fatal wound, but ...​

My arm has no strength ...​

Clash!​

My sword falls.​

My legs give out too...​

wQBWoTG.png
Jamrock-san?!

Minvi's voice feels so far away.​

My vision blackens ...​



And into this cliffhanger we end today's update.
 
Last edited:

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
My previous updates have been a bit overlength. Let's try a shorter update this time.

...d...​

...ld...​

...ol..d...​

Cold...​

I felt a pleasant, cold sensation on my forehead.​

This ... feels like ... back when ...​

[slow fade-in to the following image]​

Yes ... that was it...​

Back in my childhood ... when I was only about ten ...​

I had caught a flu ... Tim Timaya was tending to me ...​

She was the dependable older sister to me back then, one year older than me...​

5fRg51h.png


But sometime, I grew in height ...​

I grew to know the various sides of her ...​

And then, Tim Timaya responded to my feelings ...​

But still, I couldn't disobey her, even when I was sick ~~

She was, as always, the dependable older sister then after all ...​

These thoughts were still in my mind as the pleasant coldness suddenly went away.​

[slow fade out]​

...Wait...​

...Don't go yet...​

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Tim Timaya!

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...!?

.........​

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I start feeling my body again, and realise where I am.​

Minvi had a soaked towel in her hand. I was grabbing her arm.​

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...S-sorry.

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...I'm okay!

She replied in a flustered manner.​

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I ... I tried treating it with whatever was on hand but ... how ... are you feeling?

As I look at myself, I see my wounds skilfully bandaged.​

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Did you... do this?

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Oh, yes. Both the medicine and bandages were packed onto the horse...

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Oh... Must've taken some time...

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Not at all...

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Jamrock-san ... you too ...

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Jamrock-san too ... why did you ... do that for my sake?

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No reason ... Just for my own reasons...

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Don't lie. You got hurt too, because of me...

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.......

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.......

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I don't want to ... have a second experience like ... the one five years ago...

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.........

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Back then ... when my hometown burnt to ground ... I was on a campaign ... I was too late ...

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Couldn't even identify the remains ... not a single one ... ~~~

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.........

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Dad ... Mum ... and Tim Timaya too ...

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Jamrock-san...

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You were ... speaking during the nightmare ... "Tim Timaya"

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......

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Was she ... your little sister?

She asked timidly. I accidentally respond with a wry smile. Did it really sound like that?​

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She was ... my girlfriend... I think... She was a year older...

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Oh...

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Er, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have opened my mouth.

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No ...

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......

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This ... Tim Timaya-san ...

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Did she... look like me?

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...? No, I don't think so?

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Oh, haha, that's right...

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I was just ... thinking that since you ... were so friendly with me...

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..........

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I'm jealous ... of this Tim Timaya ...

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...?

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Ah, er, sorry, forget about it!

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...Really?

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.......

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Anyway ... I ...

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... don't want to feel that sort of regret again ...

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That I couldn't protect someone ... I don't want to feel that again ...

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That's why I want to... protect you...

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Jamrock...san...

One of the punctuation keys on my keyboard is close to wearing out.

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Will you really ...

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Will you really ... protect me?

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Yeah...

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.......

Minvi's forehead hit my shoulder.​

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I was so afraid ... so afraid ...

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nnn... sniff ...

The weeping soon turned into a wail.​

GT: It took me as long as a prickly turn to turn into crying.

I held her head until she stopped.​
 
Last edited:

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
I don't know about you, but I must admit that I'm a bit irritated by Minvi at the moment. Thank Zeinhad that we're real soon at the temple and done with this 'quest'.

Like, next post real soon.

7e7WE7U.png


d30HWT2.png
Well then, towards the Zeinhad temple once again.

We had departed come morning, and the horse had progressed well.​

It'll soon be evening, but if we just keep this pace, we should get there before sundown, with time to spare.​

GT: I am planning to be in the evening soon, but if I proceed as it is, I will be able to afford the temple by the sunset.

In Google-Translate-land, Jamrock lost his paycheque and was pretty much dirt poor, but the next day he has enough money to buy himself a whole temple.

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How long until we are there?

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Hmm... around two koku I think...

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Oh...

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...?

Minvi seemed cheerless this morning. I didn't mind it at first, but looks like it is slowly getting worse.​

With that thought in my mind, suddenly Minvi spoke to me.​

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Er, can we stop for a bit?

It did not sound like a mere suggestion, but more like a demand.​

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But we'll be soon there. The horse doesn't seem tired either...

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Eh, err, well, just a bit please.

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Need to dash for the woods? Just say so then.

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Not that!!

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...? Well, we do have time.

Unsatisfied, I stop the horse, step down and then help her down.​

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Phew.

Once down, she breathed a sigh. It did not seem like tiredness was the cause.​

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Soon...

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...?

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Soon, we'll be at the temple.

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Yeah, that's right.

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Er ... I ...

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I was thinking that... I don't ... have to get my ... memory back...

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...?

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After all ... if I get my memory back ...

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If I get my memory back, it's a farewell then ... right?

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I don't want... that.

I see tears welling up in her eyes.​

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Er...

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What is it?

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Would it ... be possible that I ... could replace ... Tim Timaya-san?

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...

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Sorry! But ... but!

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If I ... get my memories back ... I could become someone completely different...

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If that happens ... where will my ... current feelings go?

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Will they be erased?

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That sort of thought ... frightens me ... a lot.

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Minvi...

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...

Minvi stays with her eyes downcast after opening up to me. ~~

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But still, you can't live on without knowing your past.

Her shoulders start trembling at the thought.​

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I don't ... think so. ...If you'll just be... with...

She objected with a quiet voice.​

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Everyone is bound by the realities of their past. How are you going to keep running away from them? ~~

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I myself am no longer able to run away from the reality that I failed to save Tim Timaya. ~~~

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........

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You too, have an obligation to be aware of your previous self, your previous true self.

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Yes...

Minvi nodded slightly.​

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Sorry. I did not mean to bring up painful things...

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...No, not at all!

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If I turn my argument around, the current you, too, has the realities of the future you, so it's not really any different. ~~~

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Yes.

I was relieved to finally see a smile on Minvi's face again.​

I grinned a bit at my feeling of relief.​

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So... When I get you to the temple safe and sound, and you get your memories back ... I'll defer my reply to until then.

This discussion diverged enough that I forgot that she even asked a question.

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Yes.

She laughed happily.​

And suddenly her eyes were cast down again.​

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E-err ...

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What's wrong?

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Er, you said that, my current self is a reality for my future self, right?

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Yes?

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Well, then...

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Would you ... give a reality to my current self ... for my future self to digest?

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...?

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Er, well...

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...?

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Could you... close ... your eyes?

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...? Okay.

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I didn't understand at all, but closed my eyes regardless.​

*brush*​

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...!?

Something touched my lips lightly.​

:M

I quickly opened my eyes and I saw Minvi, with her face red.​

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It was my first...

Though her face was red, she sounded somehow proud.​

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But didn't you lose your memories?

I probably shouldn't have said that.​

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*chuckle*

But she did not seem to mind my words at all, and she said, smiling:​

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Definitely my first! That's the only thing I'm sure of!

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.......

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Let's go!

She hurriedly turned around, possibly to hide her embarrassment, and ran for the horse.​

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........

I felt something akin to discomfort, and spent a short while in a stupor. ~~

d30HWT2.png
She's not a kid, right?

I shake my head slightly and walk towards the horse.​

Towards the place Minvi is waiting at.​
 

Dayyālu

Arcane
Joined
Jul 1, 2012
Messages
4,465
Location
Shaper Crypt
Gotta love Japs. The RPG equivalent of The Room.

Not to hate on yer effort or anything (as the mix of Google Translate and atrocious plot amuses me more than it should) but how long is the thing? Any chance for ya to, well, finish it before LP fatigue kicks in?

I don't know about you, but I must admit that I'm a bit irritated by Minvi at the moment. Thank Zeinhad that we're real soon at the temple and done with this 'quest'.

It's a female character in a JRPG. If you did not want to throw her to the lions the istant we met her, I would be surprised.
 

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
Well...

The game is 14 days long. The days start running when the prologue ("day 0") ends. As for the prologue, we're about ... 70-75 % through it right now.

I estimate that a day (when they start running) is two posts at the most.

I plan to get the prologue done at the very least. Come hell or high water, that sort of thing.

I have the next two posts pre-translated already so I'm not too bad off right now...
 

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
After three posts of Minvi and plot being glacial, the plot finally starts rolling. New characters too!

This would be where the "Prologue, part 2" starts.

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After reaching the town, it did not take long until the Zeinhad temple showed us its massive figure.​

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I can see it now...

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Yes...

Minvi had been holding my sleeve, and now she tightened her grip of it.​

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Do you recognise it?

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I don't know. But, it does seem familiar.

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Oh.

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ZEINHAD TEMPLE​

We rode the road to the temple.​

We dismounted from our horse and opened the door to the temple. Inside we found an enormous cathedral.​

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It was built no different from any other temple, but it was more spacious and more impressive than any I had seen.​

The cathedral looked like it could fit a thousand people. Deep inside stood an imposing altar.​

GT: One thousand people are settled in the very inner part of the cathedral, where a good teaching staff is installed.

Inside the cathedral, quite a few people were sitting, though sparsely, listening to the sermon by the high priest.​

The resonant voice echoed clearly and was filled with affection.​

Just as one would expect from a royal temple's high priest.​

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Well then, today's sermon ends here.

The quietly spoken closing words reminded me of my years as a fencing instructor.​

On the priest's words people stood up and left through the door we came in from.​

When all of the people had left the cathedral...​

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E-er... Jamrock-san?

Minvi was tugging my cloak.​

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Yeah...

I nodded as I understood what she meant.​

As I glance around, I realise that we were not alone here.​

1, 2, 3 ... There were at least ten people.​

They seemed inexperienced in sneaking around, for even Minvi noticed them.​

Besides, hiding so many people in a closed space is a difficult task. ~~~

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Stop sneaking around and show yourselves.

I sense a feeling of shock spreading around me.​

And just a moment after...​

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J-Jamrock the kidnapper! Let Minvi-sama go and surrender yourself!

We gots ourselves a moniker.

Ten priests stand up near us. Looks like my count was correct.​

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...!!

Minvi instead clinged even tighter to me, perhaps startled by their menacing looks.​

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L-Let her go at once!

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That's a bit hard to do...

This is one of those frequently appearing phrases that are really hard to translate. Its literal meaning is something like "I don't know how to respond to that"

Each priest is holding either some sort of a weapon or an unarmed fighting pose, but every single one fails to look threatening.​

GT: Although we are taking a stance of becoming weapons of unexpected thought, none of them are like something.

Well then ...​

  1. Persuade them
  2. Grab my sword
  3. Do nothing

1. Persuade them. I guess it can't hurt to try.

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Wait. I *saved* Minvi and came all the way here.

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What nonsense! And to think that such falsehoods were spoken in this cathedral, what sacrilege!

I predicted as much. They won't listen.​

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It's true! Believe us!

They seemed to turn a deaf ear to her too.​

I guess there's no other option but force...? ~~

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Everybody! That is enough!

That moment, a voice I had heard before echoed around me.​

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The owner of that voice was the high priest who had been holding the sermon.​

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Stand down.

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B-but...

The high priest brushed the priests, who were still trying to oppose me, off with a single hand movement, and faced us.​

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I apologise for the rudeness of my subordinates, Jamrock-sama.

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No problem.

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Also, glad to see you back, Minvi.

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.........

Minvi was still gripping my cloak and wasn't showing signs of letting go.​

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Minvi has lost her memory. I was thinking that she'd be from around here and brought her here. I seem to have been correct?

GT: Minwi is losing his memory now. For the time being, I thought he was a human of this edge, so I brought it ... Is it still so?

I responded in Minvi's place, as she was still standing stiff and cautious.​

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Oh, her memory?

The high priest mused over my reply without showing much surprise in his manner.​

He hastily continued after noticing my puzzled expression.​

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Oh, I was just supposing that she had come into some kind of danger, given her status.

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Number one temple priest successor, right?

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Yes.

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She was sent to Altamina castle for an audience with His Majesty Pharmacy IV, to greet him formally as the next temple priest, but then this... ~~

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.........

Minvi was gripping even tighter now.​

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I heard that Minvi-oneesama had come back?!

'oneesama' is something like '(respected) big sister' but does not have to be, well, a sibling.

A door opened at the back and a girl came in.​

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Minvi-oneesama! You returned safely!

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E--Err...

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Wait, Kalderina. Minvi has lost her memory.

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Her ... memory?

The girl's -- Kalderina's -- expression darkens.​

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Has she forgotten me too?

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Er ... I'm sorry...

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........

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Kalderina, this is Jamrock-sama, who brought Minvi here.

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Ah ... I must've been rude, Jamrock-sama. I am Kalderina, a miko of the royal temple.

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Oh.

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Well then, this is rather hasty, but let us perform the treatment for returning her memory.

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!? Right now?

Yes, right now. Do it for the plot.

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The sooner we start, the higher the chance to succeed. Until then, we have readied a room for Jamrock-sama to rest in.

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Ah, thank you.

I touched Minvi's hand gently. She was still gripping my cloak.​

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............

Her tight grip slowly started to loosen.​

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Kalderina, will you guide Jamrock-sama to his room?

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Understood.

Minvi followed the high priest to one door, and I followed Kalderina to another. As we reached our doors,​

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Jamrock-san!

Minvi suddenly called out to me.​

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I'll be waiting for your reply!

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.............

It took me a while to understand that she was referring to our conversation from earlier, before we reached the temple.​

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Yeah.

I blurted out a lukewarm reply in my confusion.​

..........​

Minvi continued to follow the priest and exited the cathedral.​

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...............

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Well, I will guide you.

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Please do.

I followed Kalderina and left the cathedral behind.​

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Now that I think of it ...

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Y--yes, what is it?

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I was just thinking that you called her "Minvi-oneesama" ... does that mean you're Minvi's little sister?

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Oh ... no!

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Just that, she's been taking care of me ever since I came here to be a miko...

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Oh.

To be honest, I did not expect that Minvi would be the kind to take care of others, but maybe she used to be like that [before the memory loss]​

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Then, are you too a priest candidate?

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Yes, more or less...

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...I understood that it was not a 'more or less' kind of thing.

As I think of Minvi, the following feels rather hard to believe, but I've heard that, even amongst the mikos, only those abound with piety, wisdom, and charity may go through the ceremony and become priests.​

A slight clarification: it's expected that mikos have these attributes but only those with exceptional levels of these attributes get through the ceremony.

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May I ask you how many-eth candidate you are?

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Yes. I'm number two in line.

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Number two?

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Er ... yes.

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Do you mean that you come after Minvi?

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Yes.

I must be asking really stupid questions here, but the fact did not show in Kalderina's expression.​

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Oh, here is your room.

She opened the door.​

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Well then, I shall be off now.

She bowed deeply and closed the door quietly when leaving.​

The room seemed to be one meant for guests, and only had the bare minimum of furniture.​

With nothing better to do, I sat down on the bed.​

GT: I became a hand-held man, I sat down on the bed.

The fatigue from the trip perhaps being the reason, the soft bed easily enticed me into closing my eyes.​

..........​

I noticed our map has been updated.

EMSsDW7.png
 
Last edited:

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
*knock knock*​

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...Hm?

When I opened my eyes, I was at first perplexed by the unfamiliar scenery.​

The next moment, I remember that I had been guided to a room and had fallen asleep there.​

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Jamrock-san.

I hear Kalderina's voice through the door, somewhat unclearly.​

Then I remember why I woke up, and headed for the door.​

The door creaked when opened. Behind the door was Kalderina.​

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What's up?

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Er ... I came to inform you that Minvi-oneesama has gotten her memory back.

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Okay. Let's go.

I left the room at once. Kalderina guided me, slightly rushing.​

GT: When I leave the room as is, Calderina starts panning a little while panicking.

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Er ... and ...

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...?

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Well, Minvi-oneesama ... got her memory back, but it seems she can't ...

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..........

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... remember anything from the time she spent with lost memory.

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Oh.

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........

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Er ... Jamrock-san.

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Yes?

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Er ... What happened during the time when she ... had lost her memory?

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What do you mean?

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Er, I can't put it well but...

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I was thinking that ... something important happened ... when she was with you.

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That's what it looked like.

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...........

As I didn't try to answer, Kalderina just stayed silent and started walking ahead of me.​

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Kalderina here. I brought Jamrock-san.

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Come in.

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Jamrock-sama, please come here.

I sat on a chair as was requested.​

Before that, though.​

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Minvi...

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...?

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This is Jamrock-sama, who took care of you when you had lost your memory. Do thank him.

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Oh, so that's how it was. Er, I cannot ...

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I heard from Kalderina already. It was not important. Please don't worry about it.

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Thank you so much. I really don't know how to thank you enough.

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.........

I did not notice anything particularly different in Minvi's expression or atmosphere.​

Apart from the fact that she had become distant towards me...​

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Minvi-oneesama, er, we should discuss what we should do next ...

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Oh, indeed, Kalderina.

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The church shall withdraw the abduction charges against Jamrock-san tomorrow.

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In addition, we can perhaps find a way to compensate you ...

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Thank you, but I'm happy if I just get the suspicions off my back.

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But...

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I would be satisfied to know why the ruffians were chasing you.

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As a matter of fact, there are quite a few things I myself don't yet know about those circumstances...

Does she mean that her memory hasn't completely returned yet?​

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I had completed my audience with Pharmacy IV, performed in the role of next temple priest, and was on my way back Altamina's temple church when it happened.

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I was accompanied by four servants, and as we entered a deserted street, several cloaked men attacked us.

GT: As accompanied by about four members of the followers, as soon as they entered the unpopular road, they were attacked by men who had suffered several cloaks

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When I saw that the servants were being slain one after another, my consciousness receded, and after that I do not remember much.

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Oh.

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Do you have any knowledge of what the men were after?

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............

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............

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............

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...They would be matters internal to the church, and as such, they would be difficult to explain.

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...............

She was watching me with clear, but cold eyes. ~~~

With an expression that she did not have when I knew her.​

No, those eyes are probably the ones she originally had.​

The eyes of temple priest successor number one.​

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I understand.

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Our deepest apologies.

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No need.

But then ... Minvi previously lacked memory of anything that happened before she bumped into me.​

What on earth happened during the blank between the attack and her bumping into me?​

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...........

Either way, it should no longer concern me.​

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Well, I should be done here then? If, as you say, the suspicions are gone tomorrow, I was thinking to wait until the morning and then depart.

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That is rather hasty.

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Does it inconvenience you?

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Very well. Please make yourself at home here until the departure, at least.

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I am grateful for your hospitality.

I'm surprised how naturally the words I learnt during my knighthood flowed.​

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I shall excuse myself now, then.

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Kalderina, shall you escort our guest?

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Yes.

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No need. I know the way.

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Is that so?

d30HWT2.png
..........

N6jK9g6.png


d30HWT2.png
..........

It seems everything is settled now, I think.​

No...​

I think I've finally gotten back some of my lost human feelings.​

d30HWT2.png
Thanks to Minvi, I guess...

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d30HWT2.png
Look, calm down when you eat.

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So -- Sorry -- *cough cough cough*!

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Would it ... be possible that I ... could replace ... Tim Timaya-san?

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It was my first...

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Definitely my first! That's the only thing I'm sure of!

In case it's not obvious yet, the screenshots with oval borders are memories or dreams or similar.

jjB0j2z.png


d30HWT2.png
..............

...Oh great ...​

It's really strange how she was able to say it so proudly yet be depressed at the same time... ~~~~

GT: If the principal who was saying great things is depressed, I do not care for ...

zXDxzOU.png


But...​

I don't really have much to pack for tomorrow...​

I don't feel sleepy either since I just slept ...​

d30HWT2.png
I suppose I could wander around the temple...

Woohoo. First savepoint in the whole game.
 

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
7hW5wCn.png


Before heading out, let's check the character sheet out.

Hit points: 150

Work points: 100

Attack: 29

Defence: 15

Speed: 8

Heartbeat points: 4

Speed basically tells how early your character acts in an attack round.

Heartbeat points get consumed if you do heartbeat attacks. We can do four attacks a day.

For the other characters, they are called 'activity points' and measure the same thing.

Hit points recharge after every battle; work points and heartbeat points recharge after every day.

Let's look at the special attacks Jamrock has. I could give you meaningless syllabic names such as Hadouken, I could give them a proper translation, or I could let Google christen them.

I know which one I'll do.

【Takeshige killing】 A technique to attack by attacking a large amount. The damage that it gives is great, but it is easy to come off. It is effective for the entire enemy of the front row. Required work points: 5

So the Takeshige Killing deals more damage, but seems to miss often. Can be applied to enemies in the front row.

【Pacific Shrine】 A technique to drive a thrust of a whole body more than once. Attack two enemies in the front row twice, and surplus attack deals damage to other enemies. Required work points: 8

The Pacific Shrine deals damage to an enemy in the front row, and some to an enemy in the back row.

【Killing Squirrel】 A technique to inject damniness into the sword and raise destructive power and attack it. Therefore, it consumes its own damage point. Effective against the enemy unitary in the front row. Required work points: 8

The Killing Squirrel ... is a technique to inject ... damniness into my sword?

You know, just the other day, I was thinking that my sword lacked a bit of damniness. This skill will come in handy.

The Killing Squirrel apparently consumes some of my own hitpoints and deals damage to enemies in the front row.

--

There are also non-heartbeat combat skills:

[To persuade] A command to identify the enemy's leader and persuade it during battle. If you succeed, the enemy leaves but the beast has no effect. Required work points: 3

Apparently you can reason with enemies. No effect on animals.

[Cover] Command to support one ally person during battle. Although the protected character does not receive damage, the activity point decreases by that amount. Required work points: 5

And finally, you can shield someone in your party from damage.

I haven't really tested these special attacks thoroughly, so I probably got their effects wrong...

--

Anyway, let's head out.

z20QZwZ.png


We're given this interface which shows that we can move North, South, East, West, though only South is possible right now. Below it, there's a one-item menu which shows that I can enter a room from this square. This would be our room.

The menu shows us the non-movement options we have. If there's interaction with a door or similar, it appears on the menu.

This is very disorientating, until we click on the 'Map' button.

FmPtqwf.png


So basically at this point, I've walked the corridor back and forth and gotten a map like this. It's worth noting that every square has a different background image. Apparently they made a 3-D model of pretty much every area in this game, and rendered the backgrounds that way.

Let's try the doors on the left (west). The northmost one is mine, and I can't enter it just yet, so we'll start with the middle one.

*knock knock*​

I knocked the door, but I got no response from inside.​

As I turn the handle, the door opened easily. It seems the door was not locked.​

BInORx5.png


A standard room, the same as the one that was given to me.​

Probably a vacant room available for guests.​

Of course, there was nothing of interest in the room, so I decided to leave.​

Last room on the corridor.

*knock knock*​

I did not get a response from the knock.​

The door was not locked and opened with a slight creak.​

BInORx5.png


A room similar to mine, probably lodging for guests. Simple furnishings.​

No sign of anyone living here.​

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...?

But, whereas my room had a window, the room I was in had an extra door.​

d30HWT2.png
........

It intrigued me, so I opened the door.​

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Oh, Jamrock-san.

Behind the door was a veranda, and there stood Kalderina.​

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Sorry, I didn't think there'd be someone here.

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I don't mind. I was just watching the night sky, after all.

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Oh.

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Are you on a walk?

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Something like that, yes.

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Er, Jamrock-san.

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Yes?

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About Minvi-oneesama ...

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Well ...

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I don't particularly mind the situation.

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But ... well ...

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You somehow ...

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seem lonely so ...

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...Lonely?

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Er, sorry!

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You do look a bit like Minvi, you know.

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Huh? Really?

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Not in appearance as such, but the atmosphere and the way you talk.

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Since I came to the temple at the age of 12, I spent a lot of time with Minvi-oneesama.

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It's like you were sisters for real.

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I'm glad if you mean that. ~~~

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She's so pretty and everyone loves her ...

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.............

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S-Sorry, I said something strange, didn't I?

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No, I must've been rude too.

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............

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I must've disturbed your stargazing.

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Oh, not at all.

I turned back and left.​

Okay, onwards to the doors on the right, top to bottom.

I knocked the door lightly and entered the room.​

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The smell of old paper assaulted me immediately.​

d30HWT2.png
Must be the library...

A large number of bookshelves stood in this room, in neat order.​

Several priests were studying, taking books from the shelves and rapidly turning the pages. ~~

GT: Several priests seemed to be doing investigations, and taking out the book from the bookshelf, he turned the page hiliously.

Google is making up words here.

jr4nxLV.png


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............

One of the priests was sternly looking at me.​

I think he was one of those who sneaked around in the cathedral.​

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That snoop of Minister Galiba again...

The priest said, to accompany his rude gaze.​

d30HWT2.png
.................

I do feel discomfort in the situation, but then again, I am an uninvited guest.​

  1. "I'm just a fencing instructor."
  2. Glare back at him.
  3. Ignore him.

Let's be polite.

d30HWT2.png
I'm just a fencing instructor. Not anything you accuse me of.

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I know you were a candidate to be the chivalry captain. Jamrock the slayer of hundred.

d30HWT2.png
...........

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Those at the royal castle who feel adversarial towards the church, I have no idea what they are thinking. ~~

65RTyzp.png
Especially that Minister Galiba, who wields the real power, holding the king by the strings, who knows what he's doing in the shadows?

Punchy political games!

The priest suddenly shuts up and goes back to his books.​

OK, let's continue our exploration. The second door now.

Wasn't this room ...​

*knock knock*​

There's ominous music playing currently. Foreshadowing? Or something else?

The knocking makes a deeper sound than the other doors, as if the wood used was tougher.​

I get no reply, and turn the handle. The door opens easily.​

Drj9a8a.png


It's the parlour I was in earlier. Nobody seems to be here now, and the room imparts a deserted feeling.​

d30HWT2.png
.........

The images of when I first came here, when Minvi was here, flit through my mind.​

I don't need to stay here any longer...​

Last door.

I grip the handle and enter the room.​

I9Auvjr.png


This was the cathedral you can reach by going through the main doors. Above the altar was a bust of the god Zeinhad, the symbol of the kingdom of Altia.​

I walk towards the main doors in an effort to get a better view of the cathedral.​

There I noticed a strange feature of the door leading out.​

On the inside, there was a keyhole.​

Perhaps there was a similar keyhole on the outside too, but apparently you could not get out of this church ... or at least through this door, on your own. ~~

I guess that's to be expected, for a church that trains temple priests.​

No need to waste time admiring this any more. Let's go elsewhere.​

No, I didn't get this keyhole arrangement either.

So I find a second corridor to walk in, and there meet Minvi.

tAbTArB.png


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Jamrock-san...

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..........

I did not know how to answer, so I just stood there silently watching her.​

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Do you have a bit of time?

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I don't mind.

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Good. Oh, this is my room. Do come in.

Though I felt strange discomfort, I accepted her invitation.​

GT: While feeling strange incompatibility, I responded to Miniwi's soup.

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Minvi urged me to sit down, and then spoke to me.​

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Er...

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Thank you very much.

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You thanked me earlier already.

GT: I asked you to arrive earlier if you asked.

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Oh, right.

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..........

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Er ... I don't ...

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I don't remember at all what happened when I was with you, but...

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But I'm sure that it was fun.

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Fun?

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Yes.

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Because, well, I somehow feel relaxed when I'm with you.

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So I was thinking that I'd try my best to remember that time.

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No point in doing needless things.

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Needless things?

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Minvi, you're priest candidate number one, right?

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You should do whatever they wish you to do here.

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Your lost memory only spans three days. You'll forget about it in no time. ~~~

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But ... I feel that ... it was somehow important.

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............

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Oh, right! The head priest had something he wanted of me. Do you mind if I step outside for a while?

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I should excuse myself too.

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No, this shouldn't take much time.

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No, I must've overstayed my welcome too.

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Oh.

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Well then, I'll excuse myself now.

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Yeah.

Well, I guess I'll head somewhere else then.​

Next door!

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*knock knock*​

There's no answer.​

I turn the handle lightly.​

*ker-chack*​

The door was locked. Maybe a private room or just unused.​

I decided to go elsewhere.​

Final room, on the lower right.

*thud thud*​

I knocked the door with some strength, but got no response from the inside.​

Grab the handle, turn.​

But the door won't budge at all, whether I push it or pull it.​

It must have a pretty heavy-duty lock.​

I give up and decide to go elsewhere.​

All rooms explored now. Here's what the map looks like currently:

haxa4Q0.png


If I try to re-visit the rooms, Jamrock usually refuses to enter, saying that he's seen the room already.

Here are the two rooms that have flavour texts of some interest. First, the library:

I opened the door and entered the library.​

The priests that were previously studying there had already left, and the library was deserted.​

Most of the books are, understandably, religious in nature, and none look interesting enough to even pick up.​

d30HWT2.png
I guess I'll leave...

I mutter to no one in particular, and leave the library behind.​

Minvi's room.

Wasn't this Minvi's room?​

I was going to knock, but my hand stopped mid-air.​

I don't really have anything to talk about with her any more.​

Or rather, it'd be better to not talk to her at all.​

I averted my eyes from the door and decided to go elsewhere.​

Let's go back to Jamrock's room again.

I suppose it's time to go back.​

lF2THEV.png


d30HWT2.png
Phew.

It wasn't a long distance that I walked, yet my body felt a strange kind of fatigue.​

I lay down on the bed.​

d30HWT2.png
...........

Next update, the action starts. Same bat-time, same bat-thread!
 

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
In today's update, we introduce green text.

hDwDEhr.png


I abruptly woke up from my sleep.​

I have a bad feeling...​

*pii pii*​

[SFX: one of those aerosol-can-type horn things some idiots bring to sports audiences]​

A high-pitched flute sound echoes.​

No, an aerosol can does not make a sound that high-pitched ...

Lscj6kk.png
Intruders! The beastists have gotten inside!

The Japanese text here reveals that this beastism thing is a religion.

Though 'beastist' was an unfamiliar word to me, I reacted to the alarmed atmosphere and to the word 'intruder' and jumped out of the bed.​

I grabbed the sword that I had offhandedly laid nearby and dashed out of the room.​

*pii pii*​

The shrill sound of the alarm continues to echo. I wonder who is responsible for it.​

I guess I can't stay here.​

We get the movement interface again. Yay. Let's go down the corridor.

And soon we meet a priest.

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You again?

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What's happening?

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The beasts attacked.

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Why'd they attack this place?

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None of your business! Damn you, beasts, I won't let you have Minvi!

GT: It does not matter to you! It is! Dutch girls, beast guys and so on, I will not give you Min Wy! It is!

Dutch girls?

d30HWT2.png
They're aiming for Minvi?

I was going to check the rooms one at a time, but there's nothing interesting about it except perhaps the descriptions of Jamrock kicking the doors open and ninja-ing into the rooms so I say screw them, and just give you the corridor encounters.

Curiously, the two locked doors give the exact same script of "*knock knock* hmm it's locked" as last time.

--

An encounter with the high priest.

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Oh, Jamrock-sama!

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Why on earth is the royal temple being attacked?

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I fear that ... they are after Minvi.

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What?

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I apologise. I should have discussed with you of these things in advance.

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I don't have time to listen now! You should find shelter!

I spend a while looking through the rooms. There are no signs of invasion /anywhere/

But on the second corridor ...

YfcZGMV.png


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..............

On the corridor before me lay that one priest.​

GT: An example priest lay before the corridor.

He had a countless number of tiny wounds, like those of a razor.​

But right after, I noticed the deep wounds running over him, as if scraped off. ~~~~

These were not from a sword.​

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Claw people?

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Yeah ... How pathetic... ~~

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Don't talk. You'll worsen the wounds.

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Don't worry about me. Go to Minvi-sama. They ... went to Minvi-sama's room

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What!?!

And right after, we meet...

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Jamrock-san!

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Kalderina? Are you OK?

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Huh? Yes. B-but, Minvi-oneesama is ...

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...! Got it. You, hide somewhere.

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Yes!

The door I grabbed wasn't locked.​

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...........

I silently listened for any movement and entered the room.​

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.........​

Faint moonlight lit the room. I can hear the tumult outside far away. ~~

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Damn!

Completely empty! They probably left already.​

GT: It is a false color. It seems that it has become a mistake.

Just slight traces of manhandling.​

She probably didn't resist much when she was taken.​

The window was still locked.​

It's likely that she's still in the temple.​

I returned to the corridor.​

But, if they exited via the corridor, they must've been real skilled, since I see zero traces to the effect.​

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Damn!

In the heat of the moment I started running.​

But then I saw ...​

wyxRE5G.png


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Kalderina!? Why are you still here!

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Jamrock-san! How is Minvi-oneesama?

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It seems they took her.

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...!

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I'm going to look for her right now. You, hide somewhere.

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...Please take me along!

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...What?

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Because, Minvi-oneesama ...

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You'd just be a hindrance. I'll save her myself.

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I'll take cover immediately if it gets dangerous! So please ...

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But ...

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...We don't have time to argue about this.

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Okay! However, stay right behind me! And if it gets dangerous, go back!

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Yes!

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Let's go!

Looks like we got our first party member.

So, at this point, I wandered around with Kalderina in tow. Found nothing interesting in any of the rooms in the left side or in the middle.

--

But, it seems that we can now enter the upper locked room.

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We should check this room, just in case...

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Er, this ... this is my room.

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Oh. Well, nothing to check then?

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I think we should check it anyway.

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Yeah.

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Wait a bit. I'll unlock it.

Kalderina pulled out a key and inserted it into the keyhole.​

I hear a clicking sound, and Kalderina pulls out the key and pockets it.​

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Go ahead.

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Yeah.

I opened the door slowly and entered.​

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There's nothing unusual here that I can see.

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Yes, I don't see anything either. It's just like it was when I left.

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Oh. Well, we should get going then.

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Yes.

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Wait, please. I'll lock the door.

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Okay.

Kalderina took out the key again, and locked the door.​

*click*​

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Sorry for the wait. Let's go.

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Yeah.

The door below Kalderina's room, however. (The other locked one.)

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As I grabbed the handle, I felt an unnatural sensation in my hand.​

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...?

The handle had been twisted into an unnatural shape.​

This was not done with tools. The marks took the shape of five fingers, and told me that this was done with overwhelming physical strength. ~~~~

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...!

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...! Jamrock-san!

Kalderina had noticed my behaviour, and deduced its meaning. She flusteredly looked up at me.​

*creak*​

The broken door let out a faint creak as I pulled the twisted handle.​

*clatter*​

That moment, I heard a sound from inside, as if something fell.​

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...!

Hesitating for a moment, I slammed open the door and jumped into the room.​

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Jamrock-san!

Kalderina followed me and entered the room too.​

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Jamrock-san! Kalderina!

OK, found her. Mission complete!

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Minvi!

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Minvi-oneesama!

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..........

Or not complete ...

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.....!

This thing hiding behind Minvi showed himself.​

An eerie mask on his face. Though I cannot see behind the mask, I can see that ...​

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...Claw people!

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Claw people...

Those pointed ears immediately revealed that he was not human.​

The shape of the eyes too, was closer to that of cats and tigers than that of humans.​

Remaining was, the terribly sharp claws.​

Apart from those features, they looked just like humans.​

However, the muscles under that dark skin they have fostered through living in the wild, surpass in strength that of most humans.​

That is the claw people, in a nutshell.​

9tBnA0g.png


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Two of them?

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ヴェイシェン ヨウナクニャジ!

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...? Jamrock-san?

My speech lead to a puzzled expression from Kalderina, and the two claw people paused for a moment.​

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...!

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ニィノンシュ ユーユア (You speak our language?)

I had naturally learnt it while on the battlefield. I had not used it for a while, but it seems they understood me well enough.​

GT: It was attached to nature when I was in the battlefield. Although I have not used it for a while, it seems that it passed well.

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ハイヤシュ、ヴェイシェン ヨウナクニャジ? (I'll ask once more: Why are you taking that girl?)

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プノンホイタ・・・ (We cannot answer that.)

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チャルゲイウォバ。 (Leave this to me.)

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ミンハイ (Understood.)

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...!

The next moment, the other claw person charged at me.​

I need to find some decent personal pronouns for these claw people...

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You're not going to stall me that easily!

I drew my sword, and assumed a fighting pose.​

MFca6zc.png


These claw people have a funky fighting pose...

Aaanyway. This claw person deals a whopping 1 HP of damage per attack, and manages to miss two of his attacks. I mow him down in two rounds. These prologue fights are ridiculously easy. (The one I dodged earlier, the one with the soldiers in the woods, is easy but not ridiculously so.)

The enemy name assigned to the claw person says 'assassin of a religious order'

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Guh...

With a low groan, the claw person died in front of us.​

GT: Leaving a low groan voice, the nail people in front of us was out of control.

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Kuh...

My consciousness was on the verge of departure too, due to the wounds I sustained in that fight.​

Yes, the 1 HP you lost. Fatal.

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Jamrock-san! You're bleeding!

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That wound from yesterday ... must've been torn open ...

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We must take care of it immediately.

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I'm fine ... Besides, we don't have time for that!

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B-but...!

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Where's Minvi?

I barely manage to say that.​

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Oh, yes! On the veranda!

I notice the door.​

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Got it. Stay here.

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Jamrock-san!?

Though on the verge of collapse, I took a better grip of my blood-stained sword and stepped out onto the veranda.​

eaXfEYq.png


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Jamrock-san!? Those wounds!!

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Minvi...

On the veranda I found the claw person, holding Minvi, about to jump off.​

Yes, "about to" jump off.

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Why ... Why did you get hurt that bad for my...

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Why ... are you trying to save me?

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Didn't I ... tell you?

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I don't want ... to be not able to ... protect someone again...

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Someone ... important to me...

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Important...

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I don't ... deserve that...

Why is it that these conversations with Minvi always end up with so many ellipses?

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I don't even ... remember you ... even though ... you're hurt so bad ... trying to rescue me...

I actually pasted this line into Google Translate and got nothing but ellipses back. Not kidding.

Minvi was looking straight at me.​

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Minvi...?

My wounded, leaden body somehow managed to get closer to Minvi.​

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...ng!

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My ... head...?

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!?

Suddenly, anguish creeped into Minvi's expression, just like when she was peeking into Harlin's crystal ball.​

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Minvi!?

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Minvi-oneesama!?

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...Ah?

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...Jamrock-san?

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...Kalderina?

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...Minvi?

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Just like ... before ...

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Hurt that much ... for my sake...

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Hurt that much ... because of me...

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Tim Timaya-san is ... going to be angry with you...

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Minvi, your memory!?

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Minvi-oneesama!

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Jamrock-san!

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The next moment, the claw person holding Minvi dashed off.​

The long-awaited jump finally happens.

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Minvi!!

I forced my battered body into a run.​

GT: I forcefully forced my body to become rash.

But, the distance grew before my eyes.​

I had no chance to catch a claw person with my current state.​

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Kuh!

My body at last gave way, from the abuse it had accumulated.​

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Minvi!

Minvi disappeared into the darkness. Whether due to the distance, whether due to my consciousness giving way to fatigue, I did not know.​

How-ever is Jamrock going to face the enemies of the game if he keeps collapsing from a loss of 1 hp?
 

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
I apologise in advance for butchering this emotional scene.

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This ...

I jumped off the horse before I finished listening the words Minardi let out.​

The town, small but vibrant before our sally, was now in shambles. ~~

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Do you know the extent of the damage? ~~

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Yes ... It was too late already when we got here. ~~

Minardi was talking with the soldier who had come to investigate, but I had no time to listen in on their conversation.​

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Anyone here!?

I shouted and ran at the same time.​

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Dad!

The village's lone tavern my father used to get drunk in after work, was a putrid heap of charred wood and corpses.​

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Mum!

The house I used to live in was half destroyed by fire.​

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Anyone alive?!

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The main street, where we got our water from, had charred corpses laid in a row. ~~~~

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Ti...

The name I had been holding until the last, the one I most needed to shout, stuck to my throat.​

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..........

I felt that if I shout her name, I would have to deal with the reality of the situation I wished not to accept.​

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Twenty more steps ... and then, behind the corner, is her house.​

Fifteen...​

That house alone ... should be safe ...​

Ten ... five ...​

And then, as always, her cheerful voice would welcome me back.​

'I'm back', I'd reply, and then I'd wake from this wicked dream...​

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Tim Ti... maya

I turned the corner.​

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The house was a wreck.​

The now jet black support beams, tilting into and blending with the dark of the night, spoke of the fact that there used to be a house here. ~~~

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Tim Timaya...

No answer.​

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Tim Timaya!

No answer...​

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Tim Timaya!!

She is not answering!​

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Aaaaagh!!

I pounded my fists against the ground.​

The blunt impact transmits to my arms.​

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Aaaaaah!!!

Twice, thrice, I pummel the ground.​

The numbing pain crawls up to my shoulders.​

What? Why? Which? Who?​

Stop it already!​

I don't want to see anything, I don't want to hear anything, I don't want to feel anything!​

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Stop it, Jamrock!

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...?

In the dark, howling, I felt a warm touch on my arm.​

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Minardi...

Minardi restrained my blood-stained hands.​

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You won't achieve a thing with that.

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....!

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..........

Minardi's pitying eyes, filled with sadness, felt like something out of this world.​

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Well, what should I do then!

I shouted, ignoring her.​

No, I calmed down just enough to get intelligible words out of my mouth.​

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Greatest ever swordsmiths in Altia, my arse! ~~

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..............

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They couldn't protect my dad, my mum ...

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Not even Tim Timaya ... the one person most important to me, I couldn't protect! ~~

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Don't fuck with me ... don't you fuck with me!

Did I...​

Did I, again, fail to protect?​

Minvi...​

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Tim Timaya-san is ... going to be angry with you...

...​

......​

.........​

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...!!

When I regained my senses, I was lying on the bed in the room that was given to me.​

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.......

For a moment, I thought that yesterday's turmoil was just a dream, but my bandaged body -- the treatment's timing unknown to me -- reveals that it was but a fleeting hope.​

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...........

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Jamrock-san ... Are you awake?

Kalderina was standing by the door. She looked slightly worn out.​

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Yeah... What about Minvi?

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.........

She looked downwards, shook her head slightly.​

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Oh.

The answer did not have much an impact on me, for it was the one I expected.​

Instead, deep regret fills my heart.​

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The head priest wishes to discuss the matter with you.

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...?

She lead me to the parlour I had been in yesterday. ~~~

There, the high priest was waiting, like she said.​

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We are truly sorry for the events of the night.

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No need to apologise.

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Had we explained everything to you earlier, we may have been able to avert the situation.

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..........

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What I am about to tell you now, only a few people inside the temple know.

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Sir! Do you mean...

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It's all right. Jamrock-sama, from this point on, keep in mind that the information is confidential. ~~~

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Understood.

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Well then.

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Have you heard the rumours of a questionable religion spreading amongst a section of the claw people?

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No, this is new to me.

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I am told of an emerging religion amongst the claw people, and that this religious order has alarming developments.

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Alarming developments?

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They wish to topple the monarchy.

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That is ...

The sudden grandeur the discussion turned to, lead my words to get stuck in the throat. ~~

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Of course, such a thing would require extensive preparations. It is unlikely that they would do so on a whim. And, one of these preparations ...

GT: Of course, enormous preparation is necessary. I do not think that I am going by drunkard ... and in preparation for that ...

At this point, the high priest stopped, evasively.​

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...One of these preparations include a wicked ritual.

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........

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A wicked ... ritual?

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That ritual is said to happen on a night with a full moon. It supposedly grants tremendous strength to its participants.

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They need to offer a sacrifice in the ritual. And for the offering, an enemy miko, the higher in rank the better, is ...

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Wait, a sacrifice?

The high priest slowly nodded to my interruption.​

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Yes. That would be Minvi.

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...what?

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This is why we were paying so close attention to Minvi's safety, but it seems they found the one moment we were off guard.

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We have had suspicions of this for a while now, but it seems we had a traitor in our midst.

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Who? Where?

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Unfortunately, he seems to have vanished in the confusion.

GT: Unfortunately ... It seems that I got disgusted by the trouble.

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Oh. I will leave the investigation of that to you.

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Very well. We shall leave no stone unturned.

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Then, you spoke of the full moon, right?

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Yes.

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Yesterday was the new moon, so fourteen more days...

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Do you have any leads regarding the religious order?

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Unfortunately, no. Nothing except that the claw people are involved. Sorry.

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Guess I have no clue but to dig up leads on my own then...

I made up my mind and stood up.​

GT: I never got up my mind.

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? Jamrock-sama?

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Leave Minvi to me.

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Jamrock-sama!?

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This situation came to because I failed to protect her.

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But, you were not responsible for her.

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It's not a question of who was responsible.

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Just that, if I don't do something, I cannot get my mind settled.

GT: However, if you do not do it your feelings will not fit.

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But...

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I will accompany you!

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Kalderina!?

The high priest's flustered voice echoed in the room​

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............

Kalderina was looking at me with sincere eyes.​

But, I can easily imagine that to her, this trip will not be easy.​

I ...​

  1. oppose her proposition.
  2. support her proposition.

Well, a cleric in our party can't hurt. She can patch up Jamrock every time he loses consciousness due to a papercut.

I'm pretty sure she'd come with even if I chose the other option, by the way. She's our little guide after all.

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It's not that I cannot understand her feelings.

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B-but...

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Please! I will not be a burden.

GT: Please. Never got dressed in feet ...

After her assertion, Kalderina looked at me​

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I have knowledge of medicine. So, I'm sure I'll come in useful.

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..........

I direct my gaze at the high priest.​

As he noticed my gaze, he slowly nodded, as if saying 'good grief' to himself.​

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Jamrock-sama, may I entrust Minvi and Kalderina to you?

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Yes.

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Thank you very much! Jamrock-sama! Sir!

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We will try to help you as much as we can, too.

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I will write a secret letter instructing all the temples in Altia to help you as they can, and entrust it to Kalderina.

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Thank you.

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It's my pleasure. But, when are you going to depart?

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We mustn't delay a moment longer. We should depart right now. Are you ... Kalderina, do you need to prepare in any way? ~~

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Oh, I'll get right to it!

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I'll go prepare myself too.

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All right. I shall write the letter then.

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Thank you.

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I don't really have much to pack though ...​

The only important thing I have is this sword.​

The cold sparkle of the blade caught my attention.​

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Surely ... no, definitely ...

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I'll definitely get you out of there, Minvi!

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Well then, we shall pray for good fortune in your battles.

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Thanks.

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We will be off now, Sir.

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Kalderina, please don't overexert yourself.

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I won't.

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Let's go.

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Yes.

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.............

We left the Zeinhad temple behind.​



So ... if they kidnapped the number one miko and plan to sacrifice her, is it really a good idea to send number two to save her?

Oh, yes. This is the end of the prologue. Real game starts here. (But do still read the next post.)
 
Last edited:

shywn

Savant
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
436
pPeyw4K.png


This is what Kalderina's character sheet looks like.

As expected, she's worse than Jamrock in pretty much every aspect.

Her special skills are:

【Emergency treatment】 A command for treating a single person on a caldeverina who is good at medical technology. Recover the damage point slightly. Required work points: 3

Pretty obvious. In-combat healing.

Those question marks, I think, mean that she'll get other combat skills sometime during the game.

[To receive advice] A command to advise on behaviors to be performed next during the search. There is no point in listening to the same thing. Required work points: 3

You can also ask her for advice during the exploration. At a cost of three work points, she'll tell you where you need to go to progress with the plot. Kind of handy, really.

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Er, Jamrock-san?

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Hm?

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About the lodgings from now on...

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Yeah, it's going to be quite tough to find some place to stay the night, since I'm a wanted man and so on.

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That is what I meant to discuss. For the situation at hand, we receive the Zeinhad temples' complete cooperation, so we can stay in the temple church in every town and village.

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That is most welcome. We don't have to suffer discomfort due the night dew that way.

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Moreover, they will guard our secret thoroughly, so we should not get arrested there.

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Good.

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Then, about our plans from now on...

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That's right... First we need to find some clues on Minvi's whereabouts.

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On that tangent, we need to investigate this claw people organisation that kidnapped Minvi.

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But, we can't spend time for nothing. It is probably reasonable to head for the mountains in the north, where the claw people mostly live, and check out the towns near our journey.

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I agree. I inquired for some information on the towns we can stop by tonight, from the head priest.

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Oh. What did he say?

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According to him, in the town of Domst, there is a claw person who acts as an adviser to the claw people, a monk by the name of Gelpudiu. ~~~~

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We may be able to get some information on the claw people from there.

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Then, in the village of Clinacle, there is a claw woman by the name of Karikai, who sought sanctuary from the temple church there.

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While we don't know her exact circumstances, there is a possibility that her situation has a link to our current case.

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Time-wise, we cannot check them both out. Shall we go to the town of Domst, or to the village of Clinacle?

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Where to now? Domst or Clinacle? Let's have a vote.

I hope to have the results by Tuesday morning European time (Monday night US time).

(Also, if anyone has a singular noun for the claw people that sounds less stupid than 'claw person', please post your suggestion.)
 

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