"Actually, that was the whole reason why Ena came in the first place. Since Kusanagi-san risked his life to save me, and caused Ena to fall in love with you. Also, Kusanagi-san has obtained the Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi, right? That is Ena's partner, so why don't you accept it along with me!"
"N-no, besides how come I didn't know that I have gained something so dangerous!"
"But that is the truth... Ena is still a little afraid of doing erotic things, but kissing is completely fine. Do you want to have another go? Right now?"
"K-Kissing, what is that all about?! Onii-chan, what is going on!"
As Ena approached and Shizuka questioned, Godou looked towards the other three as if pleading for help.
Great, this was now the time to win his trust.
Liliana coughed, and began to speak calmly.
"Kusanagi Godou, it looks like you are trying to act coldly towards this girl who wants to enter your harem. This is not like you. You should accept her with the usual attitude, as befits a king's dignity. As for little sister Shizuka, I will explain to her later. Please leave it to me!"
Though it was not something she wished willingly, now was the time to let him witness the acceptance in her generous yet sorrowful heart.
But her master held his head in his arms instead.
"Liliana, do not make things worse with those kinds of words!"
"Godou, that woman is no good. Though I can forget the suffering she brought me, I cannot agree to let her serve by Godou's side!"
"That is correct. Ena you have to watch your words and actions. Do not make things hard for Godou-san!"
True autumn was rapidly approaching, but the chaos and commotion surrounding Kusanagi Godou probably would not subside for the time being.
Translator's Notes and References
Aoyama Doori: Main street in Aoyama, Tokyo.
Miko: Miko are usually Japanese shrine maidens. However, in this story the term also refers to a type of magic-user, and not all of those magical miko are shrine-maidens. That is why we left the term as miko whenever it shows up.
Hime-Miko: Japanese for princess-shrine maiden. It is the name of a group of people and as with miko, we decided to leave it as it is for now.
Swastika [卍]: do not associate with Nazism; see Eastern Swastika Use (Wiki)
Yushima Tenjin: Shinto shrine in Tokyo devoted to Tenjin, a god related to learning. It is frequently visited by the students hoping to pass the entrance exam
Kanda Myoujin: Famous Tokyo shrine devoted to two of the fortune gods (Daikokuten & Ebisu), as well as Taira no Masakado, a Heian-era rebel samurai later elevated to an immensely popular god
Seiza: Japanese term for the traditional formal way of sitting in Japan
1 shaku=30.3cm, 1 sun=3.03 cm, 1 bu=3.03 mm
Laissez-faire: Principle of minimum interference from a higher power, e.g. from the government in economics: Laissez-faire
Yakisoba bread: Japanese hot dog with fried noodles in the bread
Nezu: Nezu is part of the "Ya-Ne-Sen" neighorhood where early 20th century culture still lingers. The name "Ya-Ne-Sen" comes from the first letters of the 3 neighborhoods Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi. A popular area among foreign visitors to enjoy the traditional Japanese atmosphere full of local color.
Hakama: type of traditional Japanese clothing; see [1]
Yushima: a neighborhood in Bunkyo Ward, Central Tokyo.
Kurumaebashi Street: An important street in Tokyo, leading from the Bunkyo Ward to National Highway 14.
Kantou: geographical region of Japan that centers around the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Oinari: also Inari Ookami, a deity (sometimes depicts as three or five deities) of fertility, rice, agriculture, foxes, and industry; with pure white kitsune foxes serving as messengers, inari often appears in popular Japanese culture (and thus anime) as a fox spirit.
Yamato Takeru no Mikoto: a legendary prince of the Yamato Dynasty; his father Emperor Keiko feared his brutal temperament and sent him on numerous campaigns, hoping for his death. But his aunt, a miko of Amaterasu (Japanese sun god), lent him the Sword of Kusanagi (also named Ama no Murakumo, Ena's sword here) to assist him; nevertheless, he died tragically of an illness after blaspheming one of the local gods.
Oto Tachibana no Hime: consort to the prince, who sacrificed herself to pacify the spirits of the sea during Emperor Keiko's campaign to take Kazusa province.
National Isolation: since 1630s and prior to 1854 when Commodore Perry forcibly opened Japan's doors, Japan had a foreign policy of 'Sakoku' (Locked Country) where no foreigner may enter and no Japanese may leave, under penalty of death.
Toranomon: literally Tiger's Gate, Toranomon is a business district in central Tokyo.
Mithuna: Mithuna is the tantric term for the union of lovers[2]. The reliefs it refers to here are probably the ones outside the Lakshman temple in the Khajuraho Group of Monuments[3]
Sneak over at night... illegal these days: Yuri is referring to the Japanese practice of Yobai[4], where young men would silently crawl into a sleeping woman's room and sleep with her if she consented. In many cases, this was done by a guy both the family/girl knows, and sometimes even with the consent of the girl's parents. There were similar practices in pre-modern Europe often referred as 'climbing the window,' usually done by lovers or officially engaged pairs whom could not get married yet due to special circumstances (e.g. guy was still an apprentice).
Where Lily Flowers Bloom: As you may guess, it's a Yuri reference (the Japanese terminology for Girl's Love/Shoujo-ai, not the character), as yuri (百合) literally means lily.
Izumo: refer to the legend of the Japanese storm god Susanoo and the slaying of the Yamata no Orochi.
Shubo(坪): the shubo is a size unit used for rooms or buildings in Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan equal to 400⁄121 square meters (3.3058 m2). In this case, the tearoom is six shubo in size.
Seiza(正 座): literally "proper sitting," the Japanese term for the traditional formal way of sitting in Japan, first kneeling on the floor, folding their legs underneath their thighs, while resting their bottom on the heels.
Koseki(戸 籍): the Japanese family registry. Japanese law requires all households to report births, acknowledgements of paternity, adoptions, disruptions of adoptions, deaths, marriages and divorces of Japanese citizens to their local authority.
Rounin(浪 人): rounin was a term for a masterless samurai during Japan's feudal period. According to the samurai code (bushido), a samurai was obliged to commit suicide on the loss of their lord, and was meant to suffer great shame if they chose not to honor the code. Since these former samurai could not legally take up new professions, they sought to make a living with their swords. Some worked as mercenaries or bodyguards while others turned to crime. The criminals of the Edo period gave the rounin a persisting image of thugs, cutthroats and vagrants.
Okonomiyaki: a Japanese savory fried pancake that contains a variety of ingredients.
Teppanyaki: a style of Japanese cuisine where food is cooked on a flat iron plate (teppan means iron plate).
Monjayaki: a specialty of the Kantou region, it is similar to okonomiyaki except the dough is more liquid.
Mandala: a Sanskrit word meaning "circle," refers to circular concentric diagrams with spiritual and ritual significance in both Buddhism and Hinduism.
Kannushi(神主): the person responsible for the maintenance of a Shinto shrine as well as for leading worship.[5]
Kojiki(古 事記): dating from the early 8th century, the "Record of Ancient Matters" is the oldest surviving chronicle in Japan and is a collection of myths concerning the origin of the four home islands of Japan. The lyrics quoted by Ena comes from Volume II of the Kojiki.
Man'youshuu(万 葉集): the "Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves" is the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry. The second half of Ena's incantation comes from poem #406 in the Man'youshuu.
Ezo(蝦 夷): the name of a native tribe in Japan that was eventually
driven by the government to Hokkaido and the northern part of Honshu. Scholars are divided on whether the Ezo are the same as the Ainu.
Man'youshuu: the "Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves"(万葉集) is the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry. Ena's incantation here comes from poem #2663 in the Man'youshuu.
Rakshasa: a race of mythological humanoid beings or unrighteous spirits in Hinduism and Buddhism, also called man-eaters.[6]
Juunihitoe(十 二単衣): literally "twelve-layer robe", the juunihitoe is an extremely elegant and highly complex kimono that was worn only by court-ladies in Japan.[7]
Dantian(丹 田): located below the navel (about three finger widths down and two finger widths deep), a point associated with cultivating life energy (qi) and vital essence.
Banchou Sarayashiki(番 町皿屋敷): literally "Dish Mansion at Banchou," a famous Japanese ghost story of love separated by social class, broken trust and broken promises, leading to a dismal fate.[8]
Jikisan hatamoto(直参旗本): warriors granted the privilege of reporting directly to the shogun.[9]
Daimyo(大 名): a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings.[10]
Chidorigafuchi(千 鳥ケ淵): a park at the northwestern section of the moat surrounding the Imperial Palace. Known for its cherry blossoms, it is home to the little known Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery for unidentified soldiers who died in World War II.
Word of Abandonment: quoted by Jesus from Psalm 22, it is the only saying that appears in more than one gospel (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34).
2 Samuel 1:27
Psalm 22:19-21
2 Samuel 1:22
Psalm 22:22
Poem #199 of the Man'youshuu.
Poem #199 of the Man'youshuu.
Poem #199 of the Man'youshuu.
Poem #199 of the Man'youshuu.
Poem #199 of the Man'youshuu.
Campione 05 Page 23