Kays Translations

Chapter 4: The Strongest Onmyoji Gets Caught in a Trap

　Then came the day of the ceremony.

　After an opening ceremony, we were seen off by teachers, invited guests, and some upperclassmen, and Amu and I entered the Rodnea Forest with parchment scrolls in our hands.

"..."

"..."

　We both proceeded in silence.

　The path to the temple ruins was well-trodden and easy to follow. It seems to be regularly managed

　Here the Rodnea Forest is the site of Academy, which is naturally located within the walls of the fortified city of Rodnea.

　To put it bluntly, a forest within the city walls is a city structure that can only be thought of as crazy. The residential area is reduced, and the city walls are extended, so it's hard to defend when enemies come.

　However, since Rodnea started out as a school building near this forest, it must have been inevitable.

　Besides, I had heard that it was better to live here than in the densely populated imperial capital.

　It must be nice to have nature nearby, just as the nobles of my previous life recreated the mountain scenery in their gardens.

　It's said that it takes about two hours to get to the temple and back.

　I had to be back by the end of the ceremony, so I couldn't afford to be too slow.

"Hey"

　Suddenly, Amu spoke up.

"What were you doing?"

"what?"

"I mean, why would you go through all that trouble to attend a ceremony like this?"

　I answered with a smile

"After all, a person with a certain status has to be in charge of this kind of thing. No matter how meritocratic the school is."

"Lies"

"..."

"Your smile is a lie. You think the ceremony is trash."

“…Is that really what you think of me?”

　I don't even think of it as garbage.

"I don't think you usually say things like that to your squire. She's the same way, her humility was deliberate."

"... do you often watch us?"

"You two are always together, so I can't help but notice you. You're so public, and you're so close."

"I don't think so..."

　No, really.

"What did you want to achieve when you stood out with such a farce?"

"Up until now, only Amu stood out badly, so I thought it was too much. Even though you put your life on the line to fight for us."

"Huh? What's that? I'm not..."

"After all, I wonder if it's just because I  wanted to talk slowly with you."

　Amu looks at me with a smile, like looking at garbage.

"So you're not satisfied with that big-breasted slave, and want to get your hands on your closest classmates too?"

"Hey...that's a misunderstanding. Also, I don't have that kind of relationship with Ifa."

"Even if you don't have that kind of relationship, you're still doing lewd things, aren't you?"

"No, I don't."

"It's suspicious."

　Amu says so and snorts.

"I know. A lord has something like first night-rights, don't they. Really, nobles are the worst."

“If you pay money, you will be exempted from it, so it’s like a marriage tax in effect.

"That is because it is exempt if you pay money, it's like a real marriage tax. If you are told that you are not exempt because you do not pay money, you will be in trouble even as a lord."

"Even so, you can have all the women you want."

“If you do that, the people will flee and your tax revenue will go down, so it’s a matter of life and death.”

"Hmm."

"I mean, why are we talking so much about such things?"

"I don't know! You started it, didn't you!?"

"No, didn't you start it, Amu...?"

　I sigh and say.

"Well, like I said before, I just want you to be my friend."

"Why me?"

“Because it is easier to talk to other high achievers.”

"Don't you feel miserable, if you say so yourself?"

"Well then... you're strong, so how about it?"

"What good is it for me, the strong one, to be friends with you, the weak one?"

"I'm better than you think."

"Not quite there?"

Amu pulls the sword from her waist.

　As if waving it casually----

　With almost no preliminary movement, she unleashed a piercing thrust at me.

"..."

　The tip of the sword that grazed my ear and pierced behind me.

　The tip of the sword accurately caught the nucleus of the slime that was leaping at me.

　I look sideways at the slime that had its core cracked and melting into a muddy mess.

"I don't mean to be late to attack such a small fry monster."

"..."

　I silently put away the door hitogata.

　I was trying to catch it secretly, but it was no good.

　I was more interested in Amu's decorated sword.

"Is that sword a substitute for a staff?"

"It's a staff sword. Don't you know?"

"I guess......It's a weapon for magic swordsmen."

　To me, being a magician and a swordsman doesn't make much sense, but there is such a job in this world.

　They use both swords and magic. The staff sword is a weapon for such a warrior.

"I've been thinking about it for a while now, isn't that a bit inconvenient for everyday use? I mean, how could you bring such a dangerous thing into the school?"

"What are you talking about? A staff is inconvenient enough. I just like to use the tools I'm familiar with. Is that bad?"

"No, sorry"

　The truth is, it's not really a good idea to get hung up on tools without seals.

　Tools are not the essence. A staff or a staff-sword is as good as nothing without a spellbook, a seal, or a mantra.

　The essence of the seals is the word in consciousness. That's all.

　Well, this girl will get there on her own.

"I don't care, but I hope you didn't soil the parchment. I'm not here to babysit you."

　Amu swings her sword to shake off the slime's bodily fluids and put it away in its sheath.

　And then her body wobbles.

　She's holding her head, as if she has a headache.

"..."

"Are you okay?"

"……It's nothing"

"You don't look so good. Shouldn't you be the one who should have declined?"

"I'm just a little ...... sick. I don't need you to worry about me."

　After a few moments, the headache subsides and Amu starts walking firmly.

　Well, let's get this ceremony over with for now.

　Once again, we walked in silence.

　 As I thought we were about to arrive at the temple in time.

　I felt a slight flow of power and stopped.

"... what is that?"

　Amu seems to have sensed it too.

　She looked at something with a puzzeld gaze.

　I could see a faint bluish-white color behind the grove of trees.

"... I'll go check it out. Wait there."

"Ah, wait a minute!"

　After going off the road and through the bushes, I found a clearing in a grove of trees.

　The large stump in the center has a magic circle painted on it with pale paint.

　Close to what I saw during the demon disturbance.

　The foundation stump is still new.

　There were many small white flowers around the stump, but they were broken in some places as if they had been trampled.

　The space itself appears to be man-made.

"What is that? A magic circle...?"

　Amu, who was following behind me, looked at the magic circle and muttered.

　She moved toward the stump.

"Hey, you can get close, but don't touch the magic circle."

"I know, that much――――"

Amu, with a disgruntled look on her face, stepped into the square.

　Then.

　A huge magic circle ・・・・・ surfaced  ・・・・・・・ throughout the square.

"Wha, what is this!"

　Amu is upset by the sudden appearance of the magic circle under her feet.

　The flow of power grows explosively.

　It's bad, this is...

"Amu!!"

　I quickly grabbed Amy's hand.

　For a moment, I myself was caught in the range of the magic circle.

　Then the next moment.

　My vision went dark.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter