Translator Corner
Minasan Oidemasu! This is Yukkuri demasu!
Enter Valetta!
As always,
DISCLAIMER: There is no guarantee that my translation is 100%
correct. Please correct me if I was wrong.
Author:
すずの木くろ (Susunokikuro)
Translator:
Yukkuri Oniisan
Editor, Proofreader:
TheDefend
Chapter 78: The Perfect Advocate
The morning of the next day.
Kazura, as usual, had a breakfast together with Nelson’s
family. When it was finished, he, accompanied by Lieze, Eira and Marie, went to
the estate’s plaza.
In the plaza, Isaac and Havel had already waited with
the carriages along with 30 soldiers as the escort.
There were 20 servants who will accompany this
journey, wagons to carry goods necessary for camping and empty wagons to
transport the goods that Kazura would bring from Japan.
The members for this journey was around 50 people so it
was like a small convoy of an army.
「It will take 5 or 6 days…… Perhaps it might take even longer, but I will
return after getting the goods. During my absence, I will entrust the waterwheel
construction works for the fields to Lieze-san, if you please.」(Kazura)
「Yes, I will give my best. Kazura-sama too needs to take care of yourself……
Also, this」(Lieze)
Lieze presented a small pouch that was on her hand to
Kazura.
「Hm? This is…… a bracelet?」(Kazura)
Kazura opened the pouch and look at the content. Inside
the pouch was an indigo cloth bracelet held by a silver clasp.
It looked like handmade and adorned with a beautiful
embroidery from a red string.
「Yes, although it’s not something well made……」(Lieze)
Said Lieze who then made an embarrassed smiled.
She might have said that it wasn’t well made, but in
Kazura eyes, the embroidery had been done quite skillfully.
「Thank you very much. I will treasure this.」(Kazura)
For a 14 year old girl, Lieze is a crafty one... |
Kazura expressed his thanks with a smile and put the
bracelet on his left wrist.
Seeing this, Lieze’s cheek was a bit blushed as she
made a delightful looking smile.
「Then, I will be going. Marie-san, follow me.」(Kazura)
Kazura called out to Marie who was standing behind him
and then they board the carriage together.
Isaac closed the carriage door and after bowing to
Lieze, he moved to the front of the carriage.
Then with Isaac’s order, the convoy began to move towards
Grisea Village.
✧✦✧✦
After seeing Kazura’s group exited the estate gate, Lieze
let out a sigh as if she had finished a difficult task.
「Now then, let’s us go to construct the waterwheel. Since I want to buy
something when we return, let’s finish it a bit early today. ……Hm, is something
wrong?」(Lieze)
Eira was still looking at the sight of Kazura’s group
who had left the gate.
「Lieze-sama, isn’t that just too mean to Isaac-sama…….?」(Eira)
「What do you mean? After all, it couldn’t be helped.」(Lieze)
Lieze understood what that Eira wanted to say, so she
objected with a frowned face.
「Since I am truly not interested in him at all, on the contrary, it would be
rude to him if I paid him special attention, right? Rather than endlessly
giving him hope, I believe this is much more considerate.」(Lieze)
「However, to present Kazura-sama with 『Dearest Bracelet』 in front of Isaac-sama is such a heartless act……」(Eira)
The bracelet, that Lieze had given to Kazura, was mainly
gifted when a woman wants to send a regard to a man.
The color of the bracelet’s cloth didn’t have any
meaning, but the color of the string used in the embroidery would change the
regard’s meaning.
White string means, 『I wished that you come back earlier before the white of the string changed.』
It was a gift for people that will take a long journey
or for a lover who will be going to a war.
If it was given at the times of departure, it could also
be used as a confession on parting.
Black string means 『I will be waiting for you tonight.』
It was used as a reply that the giver’s passion was frankly
roused up when receiving the confession, or in the case when the giver wanted
to convey that they felt a bit lusty but embarrassed so they couldn’t say it. It
was a bracelet with a rather adult message.
Then, red string means 『I have a high regard for you.』
Just like it says, it was a bracelet used when conveying
a regard or confession.
The scope of the meaning was wide, from the simple 『I love you』 to the intricate meaning of 『I am interested in you』.
For that reason, just by handing this, it might be
interpreted as a sudden proposal of 「Let’s love-love-kiss-kiss!」 and be turned down, so it was necessary to paid attention on how the
bracelet was given.
「It might be called that but isn’t this much better than meeting face to
face, not for confessing, but to say 『I don’t hold any feeling for
you』? At least with this, I believe that Isaac’s father won’t lose his face.」(Lieze)
Lieze had already locked-on to become Kazura’s wife
candidate.
Since she still didn’t know his backgrounds in detail,
she performed seductive techniques to create a fait accompli, but she wasn’t
going to do any scheme to make him eventually take her hand in marriage.
However, when Zirconia strongly informed her that
there is no doubt that he is an excellent individual, she decided that it would
be better if she established a proper pleasant relationship without any delay.
During these last few days, while working in the
fields, Lieze was able to talk closely with Kazura.
Furthermore, Lieze also felt that Kazura response was
as if he acknowledged Lieze not only from her appearance but also her character
from the beginning.
She thought that before long she might be able to do
some probing at his backgrounds, but she had a second thought that it would be
better to be done after she had passed another stage.
If she probes
at this point of time, then perhaps Kazura would felt uncomfortable with her
and had his impression of her worsened. There was a possibility that all she
had done for several days would turn meaningless.
Lieze believed that there are no such things as clearing
the decks too much[1]. So
for any plans she intends to take, she would play it safe as much as possible.
To begin with, Lieze didn’t see anyone that could
become her rival in the people around Kazura, and this was one of the reasons Lieze
was being careful on her conduct. She thought that there was no need to hurry.
「That might be true…… Isaac-sama is so pitiful……」(Eira)
Eira once again pointed her pitying eyes at the gate’s
direction. Lieze unconsciously fell silent.
Lieze only didn’t see Isaac as a marriage partner, she
didn’t have any particular hate towards him.
Looking objectively, Isaac had an honest and hard working
personality, a high-born, and also a nice look. A youth with nary a fault to be
found.
That he was respectable as a military officer and had
done his best to be useful for Nelson, was something that Lieze also knew.
Because of that, when Eira said it in that kind of way,
it was as if she was saying that Lieze is a horrible woman and this made Lieze’s
feeling a bit hurt.
「Ah! I-I’m sorry! I don’t really mean in what I had said!?」(Eira)
Eira noticed that Lieze was a bit pouting, then she
realized what her words mean and quickly apologized in hurry.
「It’s fine, it doesn’t matter. Look, let’s head to work any time now. Could
you do the preparation?」(Lieze)
While still be unconciliatory, Lieze gave out an
instruction. Eira bowed to her and then dashed into the estate in order to
arrange the preparation for the work.
✧✦✧✦
The morning of the next day.
When they arrived in Grisea Village’s entrance, Kazura
got down from the carriage while holding the travel bag on his hand and was
stricken dumbfounded at the sight that his eyes discovered.
Isaac who was beside him too let out a gripe at the
sight of the village.
「It’s as though the village is an army garrison…… To think that there will
be this much change in just 10 days……」(Isaac)
Grisea Village was previously looked like a poor
village in the countryside, but the impression it had, had changed completely
into a field encampment.
The village was surrounded with sharpened thick wooden
palings that were pointed outside like a spear, furthermore, it was encircled
by a steep moat.
The four corners of the palisade would be furnished
with wooden watchtowers, but it looks like their construction was still
incomplete.
Beside the entrance of the village was a huge mound of
logs that seems to be just recently cut.
Valetta had said that she wanted to install a
drawbridge in the village entrance, so this logs might be for that purpose.
While Kazura and Isaac were overwhelmed by the village’s
appearance, Valetta walked from the village entrance by herself.
Valetta met eyes with Kazura and then she rushed over
to Kazura while smiling delightedly.
「Welcome back, Kazura-san.」(Valetta)
「I’m back. Umm, this has become quite amazing. I had heard the construction
plan outline before, but to think that it has progressed this much……」(Kazura)
Kazura had heard the explanation of the construction
outline from Valetta 10 days ago, but Kazura never thought that they could
perform that much work to reach this state in this short period of time.
He estimated that it would already satisfactory if
they at the most, enclosed the village with a fence from wooden boards and dig the
moat to nothing more than a mere obstacle.
But, the fence they actually constructed was the
genuine sharpened wooden palisade that could be seen in middle ages war movies.
The moat was sloped 60 degrees and it seems that the
depth was close to 2 meters.
Kazura realized that he had not taken Valetta’s
personality seriously.
This girl is the kind of girl who will thoroughly perform
things that she had said.
「Actually, I want to proceed with the construction much faster, however, the
work was delayed more than I thought before and there were several materials
that were insufficient ….. Umm, although I might have proudly say that we will
take care of this one way or another, could I ask to supply us with some
materials and tools? 」(Valetta)
「Yes, certainly. I will provide anything, just say the words.」(Kazura)
Kazura answered with smile and Valetta made a
delighted smile.
「Thank you very much. Ano, perhaps we could talk about the rest inside
the house……」(Valetta)
「Ah, you’re right, let’s do so.」(Kazura)
Valetta made a suggestion, which Kazura agreed. He
then ordered Isaac to wait for several days and entered the village.
✧✦✧✦
It had been a long time since Kazura was in Valin’s residence.
And now he sat around the central hearth with Valetta and Valin as they ate their
dinner while having an idle chat.
The food that they prepared was the potato harvested
in the village and the cooked rice that was mixed with crushed acorn-like nut, vegetable
stir-fried with canned chicken meat, spit-roasted Arcadia Bug, and canned
peach.
「I see, Isteria had been in such dire situation……」(Valin)
「Yes, it was a condition where they barely able to hold in just about
anything. If the aid was started late even for just half a year, it might have become
a disaster. For now, we have constructed waterwheels, then the next thing will
be the expansion of the farm fields and the hygiene problem.」(Kazura)
Kazura narrated the summary of the aids that he had
done in Isteria. Valin nodded at his story with serious expression.
Valetta also made responses while hearing Kazura’s
story, but at times, she was looking at the bracelet that adorned his left
wrist.
「Fumu, hygiene problem. I think we can do something if they
could use constant freshwater like in this village, but the city was a mess of
jumbled up districts so it didn’t like we could just put water channels on it……」(Valin)
Valin said it emotively, while quickly ate the mixed
rice in his bowl.
「…… Alright then, I will now go out for a night patrol. I will return at
dawn, so please have a good rest.」(Valin)
「Eh? Patrol? Right now? But Isaac-san’s unit is at the village entrance, so
it will be fine if you take a ret today……」(Kazura)
「No, I can’t. After all, we don’t know what will happen in the world. Then, I’m
off.」(Valin)
Disregarding Kazura who called out to him in surprise,
Valin left the residence.
「(What with this pattern, recently it happened too often…… No matter how I
think of it. Perhaps, he was just being considerate.)」(Kazura)
At his previous stay in Grisea Village, for several
days until the day Kazura depart for Isteria, every night Valin would be
considerate and left Kazura and Valetta alone.
Since on the last time, the mood had risen up to some extent,
as expected, even Kazura noticed Valetta’s affection and he also consider Valetta
as likable.
However, Valetta was 15 years old, in Japan she would
be in the Third Year of Middle School, so she was just that young and the
excessive age gap made Kazura hesitated to make the second step.
To not make another step just by a simple reasoning, might
be referred as a loser mindset, but honestly speaking, he
couldn’t refute this.
Kazura turned his sight to Valetta, who stared at
Kazura with a slightly uneasy expression.
「Kazura-san, that bracelet……」(Valetta)
「Ah, this? When I departed from Isteria, Lieze-san…… Nelson-san’s daughter
gave it to me.」(Kazura)
When Valetta timidly asked, Kazura unfastened the bracelet
and gave it to Valetta.
「Lieze-sama…… Gave this……」(Valetta)
Valetta stared hard at the bracelet that she received.
「Lieze-san is still 14 years old, but she giving her utmost effort in
helping the work for the province’s sake. She seems to be quite popular with
the citizen, so with her help, the work efficiency had increased. She is still
young but already amazing, how admirable.」(Kazura)
「I-is… that so….」(Valetta)
Seeing how Kazura praised Lieze, Valetta, who was
still looking at the bracelet, only able to wring out a weak reply.
「Moreover, she also interacts with anyone equally and amicably. She even
made a handmade bracelet for me. It’s because she is paying attention attentively
like this that she is popular with the citizen, there should be many nobles proposing
marriage to her. Since she is still a Noble Lord’s daughter, her actions are reflecting
this fact.」
With admiration, Kazura narrated about Lieze, which
made Valetta suddenly raised her face up with a “huh?” expression.
「To acquire such worldly wisdom and focused on the future at such age is
really astounding. I also need to learn from her steps and……」(Kazura)
「A-ano, when Lieze-sama gave this bracelet to Kazura-san,
did she say anything?」(Valetta)
「Hm? Nothing much…… Ah, she said to take care of myself? Perhaps, is this bracelet
something like a health charm?」(Kazura)
「Ah, yes, something like that. Like…… Do your best to stay healthy.」(Valetta)
At the false information that Valetta immediately spew
out of her mouth, Kazura nodded 「I see」.
Valetta gripped hard the bracelet in her hand and then
with a heartrending expression she cast her eyes down once more.
「……Valetta-san?」(Kazura)
For some reason, Valetta’s mood changed, which made
Kazura panicked at heart, 「Ah, I’ve done it」.
He thought that it was because he had kept praising
Lieze, like her work style or how she is popular with the citizen.
However, Valetta immediately raised her face up and
looked at Kazura with a serious expression.
「……Kazura-san, there is something I want to request from you.」(Valetta)
「Hm, request?」(Kazura)
Kazura asked back with a puzzled expression, which
Valetta nodded to.
「When you return to Japan, I wish that you bought more books. If you can, I
want to read history books or technical books.」(Valetta)
「History books and technical books is it? What topics do you want to read? There
also many kinds of history books…… Also, is the technical books about the
construction engineering? I think that on the book I had previously brought,
there are some good books amongst it.」(Kazura)
「I have memorized the entire content of every book in this house. Whether it
will be engineering, medicine, military, the book topics won’t matter. I want
to read more book that has the content that I never see before. For history, if
it’s possible, I will be happy if I could read about a period that is similar
to our world.」(Valetta)
「Eh, military too? Or rather, are you serious about reading every book in
the house……?」(Kazura)
Kazura unconsciously asked Valetta back as she suddenly
made an unbelievable remark of remembering the entire content of the books.
This house had several dozens of books that Kazura had
bought before.
To remember the entire content of the books in this
short period. It was something that Kazura couldn’t imitate.
「Yes, perhaps it still couldn’t be put into application, but I have
remembered the entire content. However, it still not enough. I want to read many
more, different varieties of books…… No matter what, I…….」(Valetta)
Valetta’s words stopped at that point. As if to endure
something, she cast her eyes down.
However, she immediately raised her face up and looked
at Kazura, she was smiling yet there were tears in her eyes.
「This request, can you do it?」(Valetta)
「Yes, of course. I will buy a mountain of it.」(Kazura)
Kazura still couldn’t read Valetta’s intention, but he
nodded with a smile.
Valetta made a slightly relieved expression and
expressed her thanks to Kazura, then they once more resumed eating while having
a chat.
『I want to be on your side.』
For Valetta to even be able to speak these words, just
a little more time was needed.
☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽☾☽
“Lieze didn’t see
anyone that could become her rival” “She thought that there was no need to
hurry.” How wrong she is……
Hahahaha, Kazura
even admit that he is a hetare…. LoL…
[1]
“Clear
the decks” an
idiom that means “to prepare for a particular event or goal by
dealing with anything beforehand that might hinder progress.” The Japanese idiom is:
filling the moat.
I've been waiting for this! especially since the English translation of the manga looks like it was dropped. Thanks!
ReplyDelete___
ReplyDelete_l≡_ _ |_ ( Thank!!
(≡・ω・) ) Nepu!!!
(__ヽyゝヽy━・
/_l:_|
|LlL
Lieze was very wrong in her assumption, Kazura is now with Best Grill of the novel.
Thank you. I almost missed it, because it wasn't in the homepage. I was looking forward to takarauji :D
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chapter!
ReplyDeleteAT
ReplyDeleteLONG
LAST
You guys might think that Kazura is being a pus, but I totally understand his perspective. Avoiding jailbait becomes engrained into you after long enough!
ReplyDeleteTO STATIONS!!! KazuraxValetta has spotted KazuraxLieze and is preparing for battle. It'll be epic, as both are inexperienced, and yet yearning for attention of one man.
ReplyDeleteValetta has the "first contact" advantage, but Lieze could still get away with "spending more time than any other girl" with her activities with Kazura.
Who will win this encounter?
Thank you very much
ReplyDeleteValetta, second coming of anna?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the translation!
ReplyDeleteand I'm curious about the actual meaning of the bracelet.......
She felt inferior because lieze is a noble with an education of many years, so she is gonna work hard to catch up so that she can stand by his side instead of chasing his tailcoat. To reach that conclusion while feeling jealous and anxious, shes amazing! So what if shes 15! 3 yrs investment plan!!
ReplyDeletea time will come for every man to choose between a 15yr old girl or 14yr old girl to marry.... or take them both.(lol)
ReplyDelete