Stranger's Handbook - WN Chapter 01-76

by Chapter 01-76 (epub)

  The other one was coming slashing, aiming at my leg.

  I stroke with my sword on a diagonal trajectory from above and cut off his arm.

  This guy was instinctively pressing down on his wound with his other hand, not even realizing his neck was just losing the head above it.

  It’s a bad idea to aim at me and not be prepared….I never hesitate to kill my enemy before they try to kill me.

  Besides……..

  “There is no possible way that I, the leader of the black knights, am a weakling.”

  I was so amazed by their stupidity and muttered to myself.

  “Lord Zest, we finished as well. I am sorry to have troubled you.”

  Albert lowered his head.

  “It’s all right, I don’t mind. The maids and the adventurers are unharmed, I hope?”

  The black knights would never get injured against weak opponents, so there was no point in asking them.

  “Yes sir! No damage has been done.”

  Good.

  The adventurers’ faces were looking bad…..I guess they are not used to seeing people die.

  “Well then, let’s get going. Toss these bodies in the woods somewhere.”

  The black knights made the preparations very quickly.

  The adventurers helped out, which made me grateful.

  However, it was such an unnecessary loss of time…….Let’s get to the village fast and rest.

  And so, we arrived at our village the same day in the evening.

  We got here much later than we had planned, so I was feeling tired.

  I just wanted to drink and forget about it…….

  A banquet was taking place again.

  This is also part of my ‘job’ and it’s important for maintaining the Frontier Count’s Household’s authority.

  Really now, being a noble is damn difficult.

  I was really in need for a drink.

  “ “ “ “ “Cheers!” “ “ “ “

  “Everyone, today you’re allowed to eat and drink all you want!”

  “Yes!” “Zest-sama, let’s buy some sake from the imperial capital on the way back!” “Ah! I also want some sweets.”

  “Right, leave it to me. It’s a long-awaited journey after all. Leaving that aside, come on, drink!”

  “Zest-sama, this sake is really good!”

  “Oh, village chief! Did you like it? We still have a lot more.”

  “Lord Zest! I like meat the most!”

  “Albert, shut up! I’ve heard that countless times already!”

  “Hey Zest, Bea has a…… dark mole on her right butt cheek and……”

  “W…who is the idiot who gave my master a drink??”

  It’s my job…..This is my job as a noble……

  Other things happened that night, but nothing too problematic.

  All that’s left now is to have my audience with the Emperor, buy some souvenirs and return home quickly.

  The enjoyable banquet came to an end and I went to sleep.

  Suddenly, I was coming to reconsider some things.

  Among the adventurers we rescued, there were two young women…..!? W…what if perhaps……?

  A fitting development for the night, huh? Ah! I give up.

  This is cheating, right?……Will the pink diamond break, I wonder? Will it be okay if there’s no love involved, only the body?

  No, in the worst case the diamond will break……However, will it be all right if it only happens once?

  No, maybe not……

  In the end, I kept on worrying until morning and nothing actually happened…….

  Somehow or other, I really wanted to die at that moment……

  * * *

  Translation: Nana

  Proofreading: Carmina

  DA BEST (among the worst): Mockii

  Chapter 31: Arrival

  よっしゃ！Chapter 31 is ready! ♫

  お楽しみください！

  Please enjoy (^.^)/

  * * *

  Chapter 31: Arrival

  “My head hurts……Zest, can’t you heal hangovers?”

  I can, but I won’t, master.

  “Alcohol is considered a good medicine when consumed in proper quantities. It would be very difficult to heal it with magic, don’t you think?”

  “That might be true…..Ah! I feel so sick……”

  My foolish father, who had no memories of yesterday’s banquet, and I were shaken inside the carriage.

  My master is very weak against alcohol.

  It’s not that he can’t drink anything at all, but after two glasses of wine if he drinks a third one, he’ll be dead drunk.

  Moreover, when he gets to that point he even forgets everything he’s said or done, he becomes uncontrollable.

  Really now…….Yesterday, he didn’t only talk about the young lady’s dark mole, but also about when precisely her chest started to grow big only to give me a finishing blow afterwards.

  ‘Zest, did you know? Even though Bea looks quite slender in clothing, her chest is amazing. There’s a rumor amongst the maids saying that her chest is very soft and springy and it smells really good, you know? So nice…..it’s soft. So, what was your first impression?’

  As if I would know, we still haven’t…….Still, what sort of rumors are you hearing about your daughter, you foolish father.

  A black knight blushed extensively and I knocked him off his feet.

  Master, you’ve said too much.

  He might have been under a lot of stress……my poor father-in-law….Will I be the same in future? I’m a son-in-law too after all……

  While staring at the other pitiful son-in-law, our journey continued uninterrupted.

  “Welcome to the imperial capital. Excuse me, but I have to know your family name.”

  “We are from the Varnam Frontier Count’s Household. Inside the carriage are the Magic Division Commander Sonia and Lord Zest.”

  Oh, we arrived…..Because I haven’t slept at all yesterday, I was absent minded and I haven’t even realized.

  Master was sound asleep, as one would expect.

  “Thank you. What about these captured soldiers?”

  “These guys……”

  Albert explained the situation.

  I’ll leave it to him, I’m still sleepy and I don’t really want to bother.

  “Slaves!? I can’t believe it……They’re a disgrace to the imperial soldiers!”

  The gatekeepers were staring at the captured soldiers.

  Well, normally, people would get mad.

  After he finished the explanation, Albert handed over the soldiers.

  They were being hit while taking into custody, but, well, it’s the imperial capital’s problem now, I have nothing to do with it.

  It can’t really be helped, these guys were trying to do something too unacceptable.

  We said our farewells to the adventurers as well at this point.

  They too were very misfortunate……However, it all ended safely. Were they lucky or unlucky…….?

  “Zest-sama, thank you so much. We will never in this life forget your kindness…..”

  “Don’t worry about it, besides, if you say such things to a noble, they would really take you away, you know? Saying thanks is more than enough.”

  I’ve already decided, I have already made my mind about this.

  For some reason, the women were staring at Albert.

  I’ll make training for him two times harder, this ‘good-looking’ Albert…

  After they bowed to us for several times, the adventurers followed after the soldiers.

  It would be an investigation, but I’m sure it’ll end by evening.

  With this our business was finished. Let’s enter the city already!

  “Well now, my father-in-law is resting at the moment. Do you want to check inside the carriage too?”

  I looked at the gatekeeper and informed him about this.

  It seemed like I was asking
a question, but, in fact, I wasn’t.

  ‘We are the Frontier Count’s family. Let us enter the city already, we are tired.’

  This conversion would be the correct one.

  And so, since the gatekeeper was a decent soldier, his answer was:

  “Thank you, but there is no need. You can pass.”

  Something like this.

  If he were to want to check the carriage:

  ‘You don’t trust the Frontier Count’s family? Die then!’

  It would have turned up like this.

  Being a noble sure is scary.

  The rattling carriage advanced on its way.

  Finally, the imperial capital. For now, I’ll just have to inform the palace of our arrival and wait for further orders.

  The Frontier Count’s Household has a mansion here, so I’ll just wait there.

  We passed through the huge gate and entered the city.

  This is amazing. I ended up looking around restlessly.

  This really is a city one would call an imperial capital.

  It’s extremely wide and beautifully maintained, just like a large, red, deep-water scorpionfish.

  And because of the large number of people, I almost forgot I was in a different world.

  All that somewhat tranquil atmosphere I encountered up until this point, was completely gone in this city.

  I really came to a city……I strongly felt it.

  I somehow missed this tumult, it made me think of Japan.

  It would be great if I could stroll around a bit before going back.

  Our mansion was very close to the palace……in a corner where many noble residences were lined up. It was beautifully maintained by a bunch of exclusive maids and it seemed serviceable at any time.

  It must cost a lot of money though, it’s somehow wasteful.

  It’s only occasionally used anyway…..But still, this is also one way for nobles to show off.

  I gave orders to inform the palace of our arrival and entered the mansion.

  I informed the servants that I would rest in my room until dinner time, and I took an afternoon nap.

  I find it hard to cope with all-nighters….I’m a middle aged guy after all, you’ll have to pardon me.

  By the way, master seemed to go to sleep as well.

  That’s why it was all right for me to do the same. I must be thankful of my master’s hangover.

  It’s been a while since I’ve slept in a fluffy bed.

  I immediately entered the realm of dreams.

  I somehow heard someone knocking at my door and a maid called out to me.

  “Zest-sama, the dinner preparations are complete.”

  “Good.”

  Forgive me if I seem too unsociable at the moment.

  That’s because the exchange diary was floating right in front of me……..

  I understand, I must write something in it.

  * * *

  Translation: Nana

  Proofreading: Carmina

  DA BEST (among the worst): Mockii

  Chapter 32: The Exchange Diary Arrived

  Chapter 32 is ready! Aaaand it comes with a complete turn of events…

  I hope you’ll like it as much as I did and I can say it only gets better!

  Anyway, for the time being, enjoy Chapter 32! ^^

  * * *

  Chapter 32: The Exchange Diary Arrived

  The exchange diary locked with a mithril chain was floating in front of me.

  I really thought that this was no longer a grimoire, but rather a living being.

  Anyway, I will read it after dinner…..

  When I was on my way to exit the room, the exchange diary followed me and prevented that from happening.

  “Do I really have to read now?”

  I started to talk to the exchange diary without thinking.

  What the hell is this? I look like a person who’s gone mad, don’t I?……There’s no way a book would understand and formulate an answer…..

  (Yes, Master. Please read.)

  It talked! It answered me in a voice that seemed to be young lady’s? when she was a child.

  Did she improve her dark magic? Young lady, I am so happy…….

  Ah, tears appeared at the corner of my eyes.

  These are tears of joy, I’m sure of it…..They’re by no means tears of despair, they’re by no means tears of hopelessness.

  I persuaded myself to believe that.

  “You….Can you talk……?”

  (It is possible. To be accurate, this is telepathic communication, Master.)

  “I…I see.”

  In this world even books can talk.

  I tried to convince myself that this was normal.

  Since there is magic in this world, it should be possible for books to talk at least. No problems here.

  I desperately tried to calm myself down and clear my chaotic thoughts.

  Well then, what to do now?

  “For the time being, is it all right to read it after dinner? If I don’t eat, my mind won’t work properly. It is also necessary in order to be composed and read Bea’s notes in the diary. You might be safe without eating food, but living beings are different.”

  These were the words that came out after I considered the situation a bit.

  This is really terrible news for me. For now, I will just postpone the trouble and go get some food.

  Putting it simply, this was it.

  However, the exchange diary seemed to consent.

  (I see. I do not wish for Master to collapse due to malnutrition.)

  “You understand then. Well, I’ll get going now. It’s too bad you can’t eat, otherwise we could’ve went together to have dinner. Wait for me here.”

  I felt relieved. Yet, when I tried to leave the room, the exchange diary started to shake heavily and the sound of chains reverberated throughout the room.

  Oi oi, you also want to eat dinner?……Or you hate being left behind?

  (I am coming too, Master.)

  “Is it typical in this world for books to accompany people when eating, and float around the dining table?”

  (…………Hmmm)

  What ‘hmmm’! As I thought, this is definitely not normal.

  “I didn’t say that just to be mean to you….There’s nothing to be done since you’re a book, right?”

  (I understand. If that’s the case…..)

  It started to shake again and a bright light emanated out of the exchange diary.

  Eh! What is it doing? Is it gonna detonate itself?

  So, the exchange diary explodes when you refuse something it wants? This world is more than scary.

  While I was consumed by confusion and irrational panic, the exchange diary’s light emission was fading away.

  That’s good, it seems it won’t explode.

  (I came to the conclusion that a human model won’t be a problem. I am coming too, Master.)

  What was unfolding in front of my eyes was a 30 cm tall, extremely adorable distortion of the young lady.

  “Zest, you’re so late. Besides, for an afternoon nap you’ve slept too……”

  The smile on my master’s face froze.

  That’s obvious. A middle-aged guy showed up carrying on his shoulder a puppet looking exactly like his daughter.

  If I would’ve been in his place, I would’ve punched the guy…… If he only stays frozen, it’ll be easier for me too.

  “I’ve made you wait, father-in-law.”

  I greeted nimbly and took a sit.

  Hm? They aren’t preparing any food for me…..What wrong? What are they doing?

  The maids were frozen in place, staring at my shoulder.

  I honestly understand you.

  However, I don’t want to admit it. I will persistently keep my calm until I know I’ve passed the crisis.

  “Zest, what is that?”

  My master asked with a smile, which made him look rather scary on the contrary.

  There’s n
o way I can go through this safely.

  I already knew that! But I didn’t want to admit it!

  “The exchange diary…….”

  For me, it looked like a stupid answer. There should’ve been another way to explain this properly.

  I started explaining that the doll figure on my shoulder was in fact the transformed exchange diary.

  If I were in Japan, I would’ve been hospitalized for sure.

  Master was looking blankly, but gradually a smile appeared on his face.

  “I see, this is spiritification! Zest, this is amazing! There was no case of successful spiritification in this world for 300 years, you know? This calls for a grand celebration!”

  “This is wonderful!” “It wasn’t just a fairy-tale!” “Everyone, this is spiritification! It’s spiritification!!”

  Spiritification? What the hell is that……

  The maids who were looking with a discerning eye at the poor living thing on my shoulder changed their expressions completely. They were looking at us with glittering eyes now.

  My master started to explain, his face fully covered in smiles.

  “There is a legend saying that a powerful mage’s personal belongings can gain consciousness and change into spirits. This is a fairy-tale often told to children. ‘If you treat your belongings with great care, they could turn into spirits and come to your aid, so you must not handle them roughly’ it’s said.”

  I see. They used to have cases of spiritification in the past.

  It’s all right, it seems I’m not the first one who’s done it.

  The maids held the exchange diary in their arms, continuously making cheerful noises.