[LN] Dragon Chain Ori : Volume 1 Short Stories

This chapter was brought to you by the collaboration between PolterGlast and Saekano Translations.

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Volume 1 Short Stories

 

Translator : PolterGlast

The Prequel to Love

 

One evening I invited my dear friend, Tima, to the mansion for the first time. A commoner and an aristocrat. An unlikely combination considering the difference in status, but here in Arcazam, there is nothing wrong with that.

 

"Come on, Tima-san, please tell me about it!"

"Well, I don't have that kind of experience, so that's impossible."

 

The problem was that my dear little sister was even more excited than I was. The content of the conversation was first love. She is getting more and more excited about it. Could it be due to the influence of a friend she made at Ecross?

If so, as her Onēchan, I may have to have a word with her. ......

 

"Umm, what about you, Ane-sama?"

 

Hm? Is it about my first love?

Hmm. I'm not sure if I can call it love ....... Out of my duty as a noble, I once engaged with my fiancée, who was decided upon when I was a child, but unfortunately, that engagement was broken off a few years later. I was to be the next head of the Francilt family after all.

Forsina is a country in the western part of the Arkmel continent where women have made considerable contributions, but even so, it is undeniably a male-centered society.

My former fiancée had also dismissed my aspiration to become the next head of the family by saying that it was impossible.

 

"Well, whether it's about getting married or adopting a son-in-law, it's something I'll never have a chance to experience."

 

Somia looks at me with a slightly sad expression on her face as I remember those days. Somia was even younger then than she is now, so she couldn't possibly remember. ......

I pat my sister's head as if to tell her it's okay. I am not sad, even if I never knew love. Because what is important to me is already in my hands.

This is just a short time before I met him and came to know love.

 

◆

 

Before the Encounter

 

"Kuro-chan~! Let's play~!"

 

I walked around Central Park looking for my recent favorite black cat.

I called out to her and she immediately came out from the grass.

She is a pitch-black female black cat. She has been very difficult to make friends with, but recently she has finally opened up to me.

My goal today is to get to know her better!

For starters, I extend my hand as a greeting.

She nudges me with her nose while raising her tail.

A typical greeting between cats. Then I quickly extend my hand to her neck and stroke her neck to show my affection.

Cats are generally hard to get along with. But I am more than happy to experience the feeling of gradually getting to know these difficult creatures.

Hence, I am definitely a cat person!

I squat down and pat my knees. Kuro-chan was so kind as to climb onto my lap, as if to say, "It can't be helped."

But I mustn't be relieved yet. Kuro is a picky cat, and if something displeases her even a little, she will immediately get down from my lap.

So, I slowly stroke her with my fingertips, trying not to irritate her, and measure the distance between me and Kuro.

In fact, I want to touch her more. At that moment, I noticed that Kuro was staring at a certain point for a long time.

The bracelet on my right hand which was given to me by my sister.

I had a flash of an idea. Although it is a very important thing, if I could get her to pay attention to it, I might be able to touch her more.

I was driven by such an impulse, and the moment I removed the bracelet......

 

"Ah!"

 

Kuro quickly grabbed the bracelet in her mouth and climbed up to the top of a tree.

The tree was higher than I thought, and I couldn't climb it.

Cats are fickle and clever at the same time. Kuro had completely beaten me to it.

What should I do? That was a precious gift from my sister.

 

"U~~!"

 

I was in distress and Kuro-chan was looking down at me smugly and proudly. At that moment, I heard someone's voice I didn't recognize from the side.

 

◆

 

The Protectors and the Protected

 

Flashes of light and sparks burst in front of my eyes.

Forgetting about the magic chains binding my body, I am completely fascinated by the sight in front of me.

The sight of him fighting the vampire who is trying to take my sister away from me.

It is the first time I have ever seen such a spectacle since I have always had my back on those I was protecting.

A gentle heat seeps out from deep within my chest.

It is a warmth that is clearly different from the excitement I felt when I witnessed his masterful skills.

It somehow resembles the warmth that has become faint in my memory.

It is so unlike me to feel this way.

I am someone who always protects, and has someone behind me to support me, but I have never had anyone in front of me.

The heat almost makes my whole body relax, and my rational mind desperately tries to rid itself of it.

It is dangerous to be dumbfounded because the danger is not yet over.

But I am already incapable of even casting a spell, and the battle between him and Rugato is no longer an area in which I can intervene.

My eyes are once again glued to his back.

The warmth that seeps into my once-broken heart binds me and does not let go.

Oh, no. This is no good.

This will make me weak. The things I have sealed away, the things I have left behind in the past, are about to reveal their faces.

But he is the only one. He is the only one who is protecting the existence that I really want to protect right now.

 

"Nozomu-kun......"

 

Before I know it, a voice similar to a prayer naturally escapes from my mouth, as if I am entrusting all of myself to him.

 

◆

 

Painful Scars

 

"Tch, if you're going to pick a fight, look at who you're dealing with."

 

I spat insults at the idiots who had attacked me in the alleyway of the commercial district and threw their leader, who I had beaten to a pulp, out of the way.

His companions let out a frightened cry as they ran away, dragging their fallen leader.

He had a bigger body frame than mine, but he got scared easily right after I broke his nose.

 

"What do you want!? There is nothing to look at here!'

 

I yelled at the stall owner who had been peeping at me, and he looked frightened and quickly averted his gaze.

He was apparently feeling pretty bitter about having his store destroyed the last time he tried to pull some kind of fraudulent stunt on people. Hmph, if you're going to be so scared, you shouldn't have gotten involved in the first place!

The smell of rancid sake on my nose is making me feel irritated.

I look at the surroundings, trying to forget my irritation. All of the stares I receive are filled with trepidation.

These stares brought back the memories I had pushed to the depths of my mind.

 

(Dad, don't, please stop it!)

 

The bitter memories come back to my mind.

The violence and angry shouts did not stop no matter how many times I pleaded to stop. My younger sister was crying by my side.

Ena, who could not stop crying, and I, who kept on begging and pleading, made that man even more frustrated, and he began to swing his fist down more violently.

I glance down and see my own hands, stained red and blue.

The hands resembled those of my father, whom I loathed so much.

 

"......"

 

The unstoppable impulse, the uncontrollable anger.

I left the back alley of the commercial district, biting my lip to suppress the rage raging deep in my chest.

 

◆

 

Unnoticed Changes

 

"Heave-ho......"

 

Sitting on a long bench in the vast garden, I watch the maids tidying up the mansion that has been devastated by the battle with the old vampire butler. Beside me is Ai, who has also come to see how things are going.

 

"Speaking of which, what happened to Mars-kun after that?"

"He went home ahead of us, carrying his sister who fell asleep on his back. He needs to explain to his family and he prefers to let her rest at home where she is comfortable."

 

What Rugato-san used on everyone in the mansion was just a suggestive spell, so there would be no aftereffects on the body. Even so, Mars-kun didn't leave his sister's side after the battle ended the entire time.

It was a bit, surprising. The fact that he saved me, and the fact that he was so worried about his sister. I had an image of him being more violent and not caring about the people around him.

Talking about the old vampire butler's magic brought back the image of his back that protected me by putting his body on the line.

 

"Fufu, I see. ......"

 

Ai, who was sitting next to me, smiled meaningfully. Indeed, it was a bit of an unexpected side of him.

 

"Well, I was a little surprised."

"That's true. It was a bit surprising that Mars-kun actually had such a strong affection for his sister, wasn't it? Even though they quarreled so much at the party. ......"

"No, that's not what I meant......"

 

Eh? What? Were we surprised in different ways?

As I tilted my head, Ai shrugged her shoulders as if to say, "It can't be helped", and turned her meaningful gaze on me once again.

Eh? What? Was it me who was acting weird? Did I say something strange?

Wait a minute, don't go back to the house without saying anything. At least please explain!

 

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Can a Mob Highschooler be a Normie: Chapter 7

 

Mob Kousei No Ore Demo Boukensha Ni Nareba Riajuu Ni Naremasuka: Chapter #7

Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain

Translator(s) note: Sorry for the lateness, we caught the flu, ugh.

 

 

 

 

Episode 7 Is there really a beautiful, erotic-looking infirmary teacher?

　

 

"Fuu, haah--!"

 

　Lunch break, in the classroom. I was fighting sleepiness as I ate lunch with the usual members.

 

"What's up, Maro? You look so sleepy.”

 

　Higashino, who saw my big yawn, said so.

 

"You always look sleepy these days. Are you that busy with your part-time job?”

“Aa......."

 

　At Nishida's slightly worried words, I hesitated a bit about how to respond.

　I quit my part-time job at the supermarket shortly before I became an adventurer. The reason was that there was nothing attractive about that supermarket other than the fact that I could work many shifts there.

　But if I told the truth, they would ask “then why are you sleepy?” question.

 

"I've recently been assigned to supervise three new employees, all at once. So I'm probably feeling a little more tired than usual.”

“I see. That sounds like a lot of work. I don't think I can do it.”

 

　Higashino frowned. Then Nishida said with a nasty smile on his face,

"But there might be a cute girl, right?”

“Oh, hmmm…”

 

　Certainly, the three newcomers are cute girls. However, one is a sassy loli, one is a corpse beauty, and the last one didn't even have a human form......

 

"They are girls, indeed."

“Oh?! And what about the face?　What about the face? Cute? Pretty?”

 

　Higashino, who was looking for a girlfriend, leaned forward.

 

"Eh...... well, on the outside. One of them is the beautiful type and the other two are the cute type.”

 

　“…”

　“I’m not lying.”

 

"What is that, it's the best!"

"Teaching a cute junior part-time job, is it an eroge¹?"

 

"Don't connect anything to eroge or galge², Nishida-kun."

 

“It's not that good, seriously. It's a job.　A. Job.”

 

　I complained to the two of them that:

　One of them was a jerk and wouldn't listen to me, the other remembered what I said but had no ability to think for herself, and the last one was serious and honest but weak under pressure and lacked the spirit of challenge......

 

　My two friends looked a little sympathetic at my explanation.

 

“Seems like they are quite the handful.”

“I sometimes think about taking a part-time job because there are a lot of things I want, but when I hear Maro's story, it sounds like a lot of work, so I’m thinking twice.”

 

　I decided to follow up with Nishida, who was worried while folding his arms,

 

“Well, my workplace is actually harder than most places. so I'm not sure if it could be a good basis.　We're in most of the week, and that’s why we usually don't have enough people. If you can get one that’s in two or three days a week, I think you'll be totally fine."

 

"Wow, that's a lot. No wonder you don't hang out with us these days.”

 

"Do you want to earn that much? A motorcycle or something?"

 

"Ehm......."

 

　Higashino's casual question left me at a loss for words.

 

“I certainly want a motorcycle license along with a nice motorcycle.”

 

　If I had a motorcycle, I could expand my range of activities as an adventurer.

 

“I see. I want a motorcycle, too. Our high school allows us to ride bikes to school.”

"The high school is lax around here. It's probably because it's a little far from the station. I think I'll try a short-term part-time job for Comiket."

 

　As I was inwardly relieved that I had successfully crossed the subject, a sudden dizziness hit me.

 

“Ugh, I'm so sleepy I'm dizzy. I'm going to sleep in the infirmary for a while. I'm sorry, but please tell the teacher."

"Are you okay? Be careful.”

 

　I waved them off and headed for the nurse's office.

 

　The school nurse at our school is a sexy older sister....... is naturally nonsense. She is an old woman who might have been beautiful about thirty years ago.

　I wonder if a beautiful and erotic infirmary teacher like the ones in light novels or galge really exists. If so, please let me know.

 

“Excuse me, I'm feeling a little dizzy, can I borrow a bed?"

 

　I said that first when I entered the infirmary, but there was no response. I looked around the room and found no one there.

 

　What should I do? Can I just sleep?

　I wondered.

 

“——Sensei, she’s not here right now.”

 

　Suddenly, the curtains of the bed in the back were opened and a female student’s face popped out.

 

"Shi, Shinomiya-san!"

 

　The girl there was Kaede Shinomiya, a member of the normie group at the top caste and was said to be the most beautiful girl in her grade.

 

　Rumor has it that she is an amateur model³, She's a total girl with her makeup done up every day and her hair dyed ash gold. Her hairstyle changes depending on her mood, but I think she often done her hair that reaches down to her back in a stylish way with a scrunchie.

　Many of her friends are also very sophisticated and flamboyant girls, and she is also the top gyaru⁴-type girl in our class.

 

　Although Takahashi and the others were usually referred to as the "normie group," but many of them have other groups of friends and were at the top of those groups. For example, Takahashi had a group of baseball players, and Ushikura-san has her own group of mature girls in the brass band club.

 

　Shinomiya-san and Ushikura-san are best friends and seem to have known each other since childhood, but their groups as girls are completely separate.

 

　Shinomiya-san was the leader of the gyaru faction, and a shady mob like me felt a little weak for her.

　There were many reasons for this, but if I had to sum it up, it would be because [I am a cherry boy].

 

　As I stiffened like a frog staring at a snake, Shinomiya-san smiled and pointed to the bed next to hers.

　Her smile was more innocent than I had expected, and I was taken aback by it for a moment.

 

“You're not feeling well, you should take a rest," she said.

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

 

　I went to the bed next to hers timidly and laid my body down.

　Then, there was a long period of silence. I couldn't fall asleep with my natural enemy, a gyaru, next to me. On the other hand, she didn't say anything, so I spent my time in agony.

 

“.................."

 

Only the ticking of the clock echoed strangely in the room.

 

　It's kind of ...... pathetic, isn't it?

　Even though I wanted to become an adventurer so that I could talk to a cute girl like Shinomiya-san without getting scared, I still feel like I'm not good at it.

 

　I wonder if it’s because in the end, I'm a mob at heart... Even if I get the title of an adventurer, it's impossible to become a normie--

 

"...Hey."

"Hi!?"

 

　Shinomiya-san, who was supposed to be silently fumbling with her smartphone, suddenly spoke to me while I was lost in thought, so I unintentionally let out a strange voice.

　She burst out laughing.

 

“What's that? That’s funny. Um, if it’s not wrong, your name is Maro⁵, right? That's an unusual name, isn't it?”

“Ah, no, that's just a nickname. My real name is Utamaro Kitagawa⁶.”

 

　I managed to answer with a fluster.

 

“Oh, I see. But it’s changed from your real name. I think I've heard of Utamaro Kitagawa somewhere.”

“Well, I'm sure you've heard my name at least once, since we are classmates. But I think you are referring to Utamaro Kitagawa⁷, a painter from the Edo period."

"Ah, that's it! Is that perhaps the origin of your name?”

“People often thought so, but no. My mother's name is Aika and my father's name is Shoma, so they took one character from each of their name and then named me Utamaro⁸. Only after they submitted my name to the authorities did they realize that it is exactly like the name of an Edo-era painter.”

"Hahahaha, that's funny!”

 

　As we continued our conversation, I gradually felt my shoulders relax.

　I was able to talk to Shinomiya-san the ‘different creature’ feeling that I usually get in class. She was easy to talk to.

 

"But it's nice, and it's easier to say Maro. Can I call you Maro too?"

"Eh, uh, yeah."

“Thanks. So, do you have a part-time job, Maro?”

"What?"

 

　I was momentarily stunned by the unexpected question.

 

"Ah--, --un," I said.

“I knew it.　I've seen you at the supermarket we often go to. I thought you looked familiar.”

"Oh, I didn't know that.”

 

　Seriously, I had no idea. I was so busy working that I didn't pay any attention to my surroundings.

 

“You were working so hard that it was hard for me to talk to you. Looking so sweaty, I always thought you looked like you were having a hard time. How long do you work there a week?　I see you all the time when I go there.”

"Oh, I work five days a week at the supermarket. On weekends, I work other part-time jobs.”

"Crazy!　That's every day! That makes me dizzy already. What do you want with all that work?”

“That's .......”

 

　At first, I thought of answering the same way to Higashino and Nishida, but...

 

“I've got a goal. I want to invest in that.”

"A.... goal?"

"Yeah."

 

　I turned over and stared blankly at the ceiling.

 

　...In my entire life, I've never stood in the center of the class. In both elementary and junior high school, I lived on the edge of the classroom watching the popular people in the class making a fuss.

　Actually, I have never felt dissatisfied with that. This is because I have realized since childhood that we are all born with a certain nature and that I am not a person who stands at the center of the crowd.

 

　So when I saw Minamiyama joining the normie group, I was really shocked.

　He was definitely a mob character. His face was not good, his studies were not good, he was not athletic, his stories were not that interesting, and he had a bad personality.

　But as soon as he became an adventurer, he became a member of the normie group.

 

　Frankly, I thought it was amazing.

　Seeing this, Higashino and Nishida seemed to feel disgust and anger toward Minamiyama, but I, on the contrary, felt respect.

　I felt anger, of course, but on the other hand, I also felt respect for that guy who had broken through his natural tendency to be a mob character.

　Then I realized something.

　I am not dissatisfied with being a mob character. However, I had a longing to be a normie.

 

　So I decided to give it a try.

　For the first time in my life, I decided to try my limits and see if I could change.

　The attempt is still in progress.

 

　As I thought about this, my eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

　I tried to hold on, but I couldn't seem to stand it. My consciousness has been flickering since a while ago.

　Shinomiya-san said something, but I fell into a deep sleep without being able to respond.

 

　“----It's kind of cool to say something like that.”

 

　I felt like Shonimiya-san said that in my dream.

 

 

 

 

[Tips] Beautiful infirmary teacher.

　She does not exist. Even though there is an old lady infirmary teacher who was probably beautiful in the past, for some reason, students who encountered her in her younger days do not exist. They appear quite frequently in anime, manga, and movies, so some foreigners think that there are beautiful infirmary teachers in Japan, but they don't actually exist. Even in this world where fantasy creatures have come to exist, beautiful infirmary teachers continue to maintain their fantasy nature.

　Precisely, that is how school nurses are.

 

***

 Notes:

1  The safesearch prevented us to find out the translation www^↩

2  computer game for men featuring beautiful women characters ^↩

3  I think the last time we mentioned her as a model student, but the correct translation is ‘reader model’ or ‘amateur model’. Sorry for the miss… ^↩

4  (young) woman adhering to a fashion trend usually marked by brown or blond-dyed hair, gaudy clothes and accessories. ^↩

5  Written asマロ ^↩

6  Kitagawa Utamaro written as 北川 歌麿 ^↩

7  Kitagawa Utamaro written as 喜多川歌麿. The given name is exactly the same as our MC. ^↩

8  Aika (愛歌) and Shoma (昌磨) --> Utamaro (歌麿) ^↩

 

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