Stranger's Handbook - WN Chapter 01-76
Page 5
But, I most certainly heard her thoughts! If that’s the case!
“I am sorry! But I know perfectly well how worried you are about this girl. However, I think that she misunderstood your words from before and now she believes you despise her and, together with her family, she’ll be disposed of, isn’t it so?”
I glanced at the maid and she was nodding at my words with a poor expression.
“Oh! Is that what you understood? What a troublesome child……”
‘Ah! It happened again……I always become like this……The more I want the kind maids to cherish me, the more it doesn’t happen……’
After hearing her words, the maid’s face looked rather worse.
……..Hmmm? So the young lady happens to be misunderstood on a daily basis?
Moreover, I can’t read other minds, except for the young lady’s……..What’s the meaning of this?
“Good. You may all take your leave. Let’s pretend this incident never happened. I don’t intend to punish anyone. You can feel at ease and return to your duties.”
The maids answered simultaneously to my master’s words and left the room.
When only the three of us were left, master continued like this:
“Why did you think she misunderstood Bea’s words, care to answer?”
He is completely expressionless…….His eyes fixed on me.
“Bea, she’s………overflowing with the abilities of the dark attribute…..It’s not an exaggeration to say that she was blessed by the god of darkness. However, because of this…..the other people….well…..”
He had such a painful expression.
The young lady had a proud and haughty attitude, but she also looked somewhat lonely.
‘I didn’t want something like the dark attribute…….Why do I have to face such a destiny……
I’m sure this person hates me by now……If grandfather told him to marry me, there’s nothing he can do……’
I see, I see. I finally got it!
This young lady, because of the god of darkness’ bestowed blessings, she’s easily misunderstood by others!
The words she says backfire and people get the wrong idea……
“Yes, master. To tell you the truth, after I lost consciousness during the training with the light magic and woke up to the sight of the young lady, I unleashed my light magic unconsciously and stared at her. When I did that, I felt the unbelievably strong dark magical power that young lady is clad in.”
“I see. Continue!”
“Yes. I unleashed all my light magical power then. I truly didn’t want to lose to the young lady’s talent in magic. ‘I can also have the same amount of magical power as the young lady….no, even more’ is what I thought. I was jealous of her magical abilities. I feel ashamed to have thought this…….”
It should be all right up to this point. Let’s try a little further.
“Urm, how should I put it…… I felt like she was protected by something. When I looked at the young lady from that perspective, I……..”
“I won’t get mad. I want you to answer honestly.”
“Y…yes. I thought that she…….. is a fragile, delicate and kind person…….”
My master’s expression was serious, but the young lady……she looked somewhat very angry.
‘Fragile and delicate!? First time……It’s the first time someone told me that……..This person also called me kind……….?’
Oh, you felt embarrassed, didn’t you, young lady.
With that expression, people can’t really get that normally…….
“That’s why, I could not believe such a gentle young lady would do anything to harm the maid, so I thought it was a misunderstanding.”
I waited for the answer while sipping some of my tea.
It’s gonna be ok, right? It’s still safe, right?
“Fuuuuu”
After a very long sigh, for the first time, master looked at me with a gentle smile.
“There are extremely many dark attribute users who are often misunderstood. Even though everyone knows it, an extravagantly strong magical power calls for a very strong compelling power as well. And my daughter possesses an exceedingly strong magical power. In this case no one can tell whether it’s the fault of the dark attribute or the fault of her personality.”
He caressed her hair and continued.
“The dark attribute is in the family lineage of the Frontier Count’s Household. Since I’m also a son-in-law, I was astonished at first. As you could guess, I’m also a light attribute user. That’s why, I tried everything I could to keep this child from getting hurt. This child is not in fault, I am the only one you must blame. I wanted people to think that.”
So the mean expressions and words were all in favor to protect his daughter……?
“But now I can feel at ease. I was able to meet someone who has even more talent for the light attribute than me. You can understand this young girl better than anyone else. I think you could make her happy.”
The smile on master’s face when he said that was indeed very gentle.
I felt my stomach shrink from the pressure……
I feel a strange sense of closeness between us now, master……
‘Father, I can’t believe you were thinking such things…….I am so sorry! Forgive me for thinking that you were a coldhearted and terrible parent!’
Hmm….That’s what the young lady thinks. Her face looks awfully depressing instead…..
“That’s why, Bea. I will ask you to cherish him!”
“Y….yes, father.”
‘Really? Doesn’t he think that I’m an awful woman? Won’t he neglect me?’
Yes, now I have to end this story in a cool manner!
“Young lady, I know very well that you are a kind girl. I won’t do anything that might sadden you and I will cherish you dearly. Please, you don’t need to worry!”
I smiled and the young lady looked at me with her favorite expression, like watching a piece of garbage………and answered.
“I see. I don’t know the livelihood of common people. If you can’t make me experience that, I will be troubled. Besides, you’re a stranger from another world, right? You’ll have to learn so many things until our marriage. But, you can leave aside aesthetic sense. That would be too depressing.”
‘I would be delighted to marry him! But…..I heard this person came from another world. I wonder if he finds me pretty? I grew up like a princess, so I can’t even cook……In his world, the wife makes the food, right? I’m sorry, it’s impossible for me! That’s why he has to understand this world better until the moment of our marriage and don’t blame me, okay? Ah, will this be all right? I am worried…..’
…….So this is how the transformation occurs?
You’ve been through a lot of hardships…..I feel so sorry for you, poor thing!
“Yes, this is great, Bea!”
More than anything, I’m glad that master’s happy too.
“But, you know?”
Hm?
“I am truly worried about your current magic skills and world knowledge……..You have to become a worthy partner for my Bea!”
The smile my master wore when saying this had the same atrocious expression as the old Frontier Count’s…….
‘Something like becoming son-in-law….it’s a lie, right?’ I was sipping some black tea while thinking this.
…..and wet my pants a little bit……….
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Translation: Nana
PR: Carmina
Jack-of-‘almost’-all-trades: Mockii
Chapter 11: Quiet Talk – Dog Knight Al’s Shock
Ohayou~
Chapter 11 is ready! (^.^)/
While you read Al’s ‘quiet talk’, I will have my own ‘quiet talk’ with the autumn moon.
It might seem to you that I have some serious mental issues (Mockii would definitely agree…), but, in my defence, it’s only an assignment for uni�
�.Sorry to disappoint…
Enjoy~
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Chapter 11: Quiet talk – Dog Knight Al’s Shock
I am Albert.
I am a proud knight who serves one of the leaders of the Empire, the Frontier Count Razatonia.
His Excellency is a very fair person and he wouldn’t discriminate even against the likes of kemonobito.
‘If someone is superior, trivial things like race don’t really matter to me. I accept everyone.’
To put it simple, only those who are capable are accepted.
Even though there’s no discrimination against the races on the surface, in reality there’s no such thing as complete fairness.
But you can find that in the Frontier Count’s domain.
In normal circumstances, the third son of a family of countryside knights couldn’t possibly become a real knight.
Much less when you’re a kemonobito and your mother is a noble’s concubine. For people like me, becoming a knight was a dream within a dream.
But his Excellency was different.
When his Excellency inspected the solders’ training ground one day, he gave me the honor of catching his attention.
Is this person different from other nobles? Won’t he call me a countryside knight? Won’t he despise this kemonobito body my mother gave me?
While thinking of those things, I was undergoing a different and more severe training than the other soldiers.
It wasn’t only severe.
The Knights Division Commander personally trained me in combat and the Magic Division Commander trained me in magic techniques.
I wasn’t chosen in order to be bullied for being a kemonobito, it was obvious that something was expected from me!
I desperately clung on to this opportunity.
In order to meet his Excellency’s expectations………and to repay those two who trained me.
And, ultimately, for the sake of this kemonobito pride that runs through my veins.
One day, I was informed that my sister will be welcomed as maid in the Frontier Count’s household.
To be honest, I first thought that my sister was their target from the very beginning. I was a huge idiot to think something so stupid.
My sister was getting the same treatment as any other maid.
Since the Frontier Count’s household is the best place for learning good manners, with this my sister will most certainly be able to marry in good conditions.
Then, my sister and I made a vow.
We were saved by his Excellency……….We will definitely become useful to him!
That’s when……… the ‘Summoning’ took place.
The secret art of summoning went into oblivion after it had been used a very long time ago.
But his Excellency brought it back.
His Excellency, a famous and unparalleled dark attribute magic user and young lady Beatrice, who already surpassed his Excellency’s power in his youth…
The summoning was a success precisely because of those two geniuses’ collaboration.
But several strangers were summoned.
Strange! Wasn’t it supposed to be only one?
It seems that people gathered around our hero due to some incident, but I couldn’t find sings of magical power in any of them, except for one.
And this one person was overflowing with a devastating magical power that could only be compared to a monster’s.
It pains me to admit, but I was affected by this incredible magical power and I even lost the ability to speak properly.
When they were summoned, the ‘heroes’ weren’t clad in anything, they were completely naked.
I couldn’t approach them carelessly…….
I couldn’t draw near that overwhelming magical power.
Right at that moment, those idiots attacked the women.
The Knights Commander and I prepared ourselves for death and stepped into the room to dispose of those two idiots.
Since it was a good opportunity to separate the other strangers from our hero, I told them we would change rooms.
Damn it! I couldn’t even speak properly, surrounded by that magical power!
I got out of that room as fast as I could……..It was too much for me to withstand.
I entrusted the Commander with the rest and guided the other strangers to their room, since the hero was the only one who had stayed behind.
It was at that time………The Commander told me about this hero’s tremendous nature…………
After he experienced the slaying of another person right in front of his eyes for the first time, he stayed behind to ‘mark’ the room!!
Moreover, it wasn’t an ordinary marking, but rather a claiming of territory! He even rubbed ‘it’ against the floor!
How bold is that! It’s said that ‘The leader is the only one who’s allowed to mark the battlefield!’ A kemonobito like me could never do that.
And there’s more!
He even courted my sister by saying ‘You’re a cat!’ in the presence of his Excellency, the Knights Commander and mine!!
There’s no stronger form of courtship than comparing a dog kemonobito to a cat………And it was such a daring display of romance, that my lower body started to shake!!!
After that, his Excellency said to pretend that the incident never happened, but I could never forget that boldness and lady-killer attitude that would make women shed tears……..
Our hero sure is a dreadful person!
* * *
Translation: Nana
PR: Carmina
Jack-of-‘almost’-all-trades: Mockii
Chapter 12: Training Reward
No time to write anything else, but ENJOY! *haaato*
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Chapter 12: Training Reward
One month has passed since master started training me…….
My master always wore that evil smile of his that’s so similar to old man Razatonia’s…….you couldn’t even believe he was a mere son-in-law welcomed into the family…….I was truly undergoing some Spartan training.
Namely,
‘If you’re going to marry my daughter, then this should be easy for you.’
‘Studying is easy. You just have to memorize….like everything.’
‘Does it hurt? Then heal yourself.’
‘Just now, you were about to die, weren’t you? That’s because you neglected your defense. Start over again!’
……..Nooo, only by remembering it my stomach started to shrink…..
And then, if I were to decide for an answer, his reply would always be the same.
‘It’s not about being able or not being able to do it. You just have to do it!’
Studying from morning until noon…
In the afternoon, I was undergoing training in magic and combat.
In the evening, manners practice.
At night, before going to sleep, I was practicing dancing with the maids’ help.
I always casted a magical barrier before falling asleep…
That’s because, at random times during the night, my master would burst into my room to check my strength and reflexes.
‘You will die if you don’t start applying treatment soon.’
It was my master’s line after he had opened a hole in my belly, while I was sound asleep.
Master…….Are you really happy about me getting married to your daughter?
There’s too much strictness in this expressing of your love…….
After a very dark month has passed, my master finally came to a consent.
We’re going to advance to the next step.
“Well, you really have improved this past month. Therefore, I will reward you!”
Such a pleasant line spoken with a smile, but….
unfortunately
my master’s smile was the Frontier Count’s smile. Are you sure you’re not blood-related? I bet you are!
“Yes! Thank you very much, master!”
&
nbsp; “From today on, you’ll become the Knights Commander’s adopted son. You’ll receive a new name, and you’ll join the knight division and magic division soldiers in training. You must be happy, right? Very soon, the Knights Commander will come to meet you. Look forward to it and wait!”
………So, that plan is already starting?
First, I become the adopted son of the Knights Commander and from that position I make my debut to the nobles and the army.
During these 11 months that are left, I must get acknowledged as an excellent adopted son.
Then, I save the young lady from an unexpected attack and we have our happy ending……..
But it’s not actually an ending…….After that, they’ll make a pass at the neighboring country, huh?
Master……I’m not happy at all and I can’t look forward to it…….
“Yes! Thank you. I am very happy, master!”
I felt miserable for not having the choice to answer differently….
But, the young lady is really cute.
Such an adorable young girl is going to be my wife?
My life right now doesn’t imply that much working for a living as in Japan, and I would say it’s not that bad.
While I was making these comparisons, the ‘dearly missed’ finger-cutting knight showed up.
Oh! I haven’t seen him in a long time! I wonder how he’s been, this finger-cutting knight.
“Did I make you wait?”
“No. Thank you for the trouble of coming here and meeting us, Knights Commander-dono!”
What? The finger-cutting knight was the Knights Commander! ?
That armor and helmet and the voice are those of the finger-cutting knight, I’m sure of it.
Come on! You have to let me know from the start if you’re a VIP……
Thanks God I haven’t done anything rude just yet.
Under that helmet was an old skinhead with a very grim face.