Akatsuki Translations

“I saw it. People trampling on these flowers in panic and fleeing.” -Alfina

Her beautiful face, clutching the bookmark I had given her, was filled with desperation. I was dumbfounded. What was she talking about?

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you mean, Alfina-sama.” -Ricardo

“Eh!? I mean… Aren’t you here to teach me about the prophecy?” -Alfina

“The… prophecy?” -Ricardo

Confusion filled her eyes, mirroring my own perplexion. The sudden mention of a prophecy only deepened my confusion. Of course, I understood she was referring to the prophecy she made at the New Year’s Festival.

I had nothing to teach about religious rituals. My knowledge in that area was less than that of an average person in this world. I had thought of it no more seriously than a New Year’s fortune.

“I’m sorry, but I really don’t have any insight that could be of help.” -Ricardo

“But the flower on the bookmark!” -Alfina

My instinct for self-preservation was screaming alarms. What had I gotten myself into?

The princess in the courtyard, who had stood resolute even in isolation, was not here. Instead, a classmate, a young girl with pleading eyes, stood before me under the dim light.

“The prophecy… are you referring to the one you announced at the New Year’s Festival?” -Ricardo

“Yes.” -Alfina

“And the flower on the bookmark is the pressed lotus flower, correct?” -Ricardo

“Yes.” -Alfina

“So you are saying that the flower is related to the prophecy?” -Ricardo

“Yes. Isn’t it a sign for me…?” -Alfina

“No, the lotus flower grows in a village where our family does business. It hasn’t bloomed yet this year, but I remembered I had these pressed flowers.” -Ricardo

It was just a bookmark I made from pressed flowers given to me by village children long ago.

“…But approaching me in my current situation is…” -Alfina

“Alfina-sama, you defended me from Drefano and Count Rowan. I didn’t think there was any benefit for you in helping me in my situation.” -Ricardo

I tried to downplay it with a ‘let’s call it even’ approach. As someone not adept at intuiting the nuances of human relationships, I couldn’t gauge the weight of mutual interests.

“S-so, you really wanted to comfort me…” -Alfina

Alfina’s face broke into a tearful smile. Great, things had taken an awkward turn. How should I respond?

“Senpai, what is this about?” -Mia

Mia’s perplexed voice broke the silence. I turned around hastily, to find her looking at me with a cold gaze.

“So, Alfina-sama did not summon you for a secret meeting?” -Mia

“Mia. Alfina-sama was just trying to fulfill her duties as a shrine maiden princess.” -Ricardo

After hearing our explanations, Mia spoke. I waved my hands frantically, trying to speak on behalf of a blushing Alfina.

“So, what were you expecting when you responded to Alfina-sama’s invitation, senpai?” -Mia

“I, well, that is…” -Ricardo

Mia now turned a cold gaze towards me. A chill of anxiety ran down my spine. Surely, she would think I’d lost my mind if I said, “I have to go because it seems the princess secretly summoned me to a secluded place.”

“Senpai, you carelessly gave a bookmark that ended up being related to Alfina-sama’s prophecy of calamity?” -Mia

After sighing at our alternating glances, Mia returned to the main topic.

“Y-yes. I want to know more about the place where this flower blooms.” -Alfina

Alfina, still holding the bookmark, placed it on the table. Five small reddish-purple flowers were neatly aligned.

Those chosen as shrine maiden princesses seclude themselves in a chamber in the cathedral from four days before to the eve of the New Year’s Festival. In this ‘Room of Prophecy’, touching the magical crystal, they see images in their mind. Over three days, these images become clearer, and the last vision seen is reported as a prophecy.

And what she saw was the image of many villagers trampling and fleeing the reddish-purple flowers.

Interestingly, she couldn’t see the calamity itself; she only felt the general direction of the west. The prophecy was frustratingly vague.

“The first thing I saw was the same lush wheat field as last year. His Majesty said to only speak of that.” -Alfina

Alfina said sorrowfully. Mia looked at me. Indeed, Alfina had defied the king’s wishes to make the prophecy public. There was an enormous risk involved in getting involved. I wanted to leave immediately.

But there were two reasons I couldn’t.

First was for my sake, or rather for the interests of the Vinder family. If the prophecy was true and the calamity’s epicenter was near that village, we would suffer immense damage. Our painstakingly established beekeeping would be lost. And secondly, for Mia, that village was her birthplace.

But then again…

“I will do anything in my power to repay you. Of course, I won’t tell anyone what you’ve shared.” -Alfina

She seemed to understand the risks involved. Indeed, she had summoned me without anyone knowing. She wasn’t arrogantly assuming that others should unconditionally cooperate with her, which I despised the most.

She had spoken out, knowing her position was precarious. She took the risk for a role that was thrust upon her, unasked. It didn’t seem like a mere attention-seeking act.

At least she believed she was speaking the truth. I decided to trust… and judge accordingly.

So, what to do? The safest course would be to answer her question and leave. I could gain a favor from the princess, albeit of little value. The risk is drawing attention to that village.

I felt a tug on my sleeve under the table. I knew, I had to decide quickly before things got worse. I made my decision.

“Understood. I will tell you where the lotus flowers bloom. But may I ask you a question first?” -Ricardo

“Y-yes, of course. Please ask me anything.” -Alfina

Huh? Did she just… No, wait, that’s not it. Princess Alfina’s thinking is too fanciful. My cooperation is far from sufficient for her request.

“What will you do after I tell you the location?” -Ricardo

“Of course, I will call for the villagers to evacuate.” -Alfina

Alfina responded as if it were the most natural thing to do.

“Who will do this, and how?”  -Ricardo

“Eh! I will…” -Alfina

“How will you convince people to abandon their nearly-harvested fields and flee? What danger are they escaping from?” -Ricardo

“I-It’s… because that place is in danger…” -Alfina

“What kind of danger?” -Ricardo

“That is… the calamity…” -Alfina

“What sort of calamity?” -Ricardo

“Uh, I-I don’t know, but…”-Alfina

Alfina’s voice became increasingly faint.

“Let’s change the question. Even if they evacuate, how far should they go and for how long? How will you arrange their food and shelter during this time?” -Ricardo

“…….” -Alfina

My questions left Alfina speechless. I felt a kick under the table. Okay, I know I got a bit harsh, but she wasn’t thinking this through.

“Ahem. Providing food stocks and cooperation from local lords or the knights, it would need to be a national plan.” -Ricardo

Alfina would have to persuade the king. But so far, all she has are her vague images. If prophecies were taken seriously, this situation wouldn’t have occurred in the first place. It seems that even in another world, a vague prophecy isn’t enough to move a nation. And I think that’s how it should be.

I didn’t say it, but another important issue is, who will be responsible if the calamity doesn’t happen? The prime candidate would be the person in front of me. But I shouldn’t be worrying about others’ self-preservation.

“Your vague images alone won’t be enough to move the nation, Alfina-sama.” -Ricardo

“Then, what should I…?” -Alfina

Alfina tried to speak but then closed her mouth. I stood up. Mia looked at me as if asking what I was doing. I know, I should have just answered her question and left.

“However, there are ways to turn vague prophecies into clear information.” -Ricardo

I took a map and a botanical book from the bookshelf and returned to the table. Alfina was surprised to see me back, and Mia sighed again. It can’t be helped, having said all this, I have to help. Prophecies are beyond my expertise, but if considered as one piece of information, I have experience in processing such data.

And besides, how much I help is another matter. It’s worth drawing out a bit more information. If the prophecy turns out to be true, the village and Project Lotus are finished. I could just extract information and then handle it on my own.

Wondering what would happen next, Alfina’s eyes were fixed on the map and the book. But I set them aside and looked straight at the shrine maiden princess. The most important thing is firsthand information. In this case, it’s Alfina’s vision of the calamity.

…The irony of subjective images being firsthand information is almost tear-inducing.

“May I ask you a few questions?” -Ricardo

“Y-yes, of course.” -Alfina

Alfina nodded seriously.

“About the flowers in your vision, are you certain they are lotuses? Could it possibly be a different flower that looks similar? Ah, please don’t check the bookmark. Describe the color and shape of the flower in your vision as specifically as you can.” -Ricardo

“….I’m sorry, the image in my mind wasn’t that detailed. The color was definitely reddish-purple. The shape of the petals wasn’t like the flowers in the royal gardens… more like the spokes of a carriage wheel…” -Alfina

Alfina spoke hesitantly, glancing at the turned-over bookmark. Human imagination can be easily influenced, and even without ill intent, answers can vary based on how questions are posed.

The details match. In this world, the utility of legumes like lotus is unknown. From my experience searching, her words seem credible.

Next, I need to verify from another angle.

“Then, about the people fleeing, what were they wearing? I assume their attire was quite different from that of the capital?” -Ricardo

Princess Alfina closed her eyes in silence.

“…The women all had wide belts around their waists. I’ve never seen such belts in the capital. They had straight line patterns on them, I think the belts were light blue with emerald green lines.” -Alfina

Predictably, she remembered women’s clothing better. I looked at Mia, who reluctantly nodded. The lines are not patterns but simple cords tied over the wide belts, indicative of the women’s modest economic status. Light blue with blue is the combination for unmarried women in that region.

“Was there any building or landmark that could indicate the region?” -Ricardo

“…There might have been a watermill near the village.” -Alfina

“…”,”…” -Ricardo & Mia

Mia and I frowned. To Alfina, a watermill might seem common, but in this country where wood is precious, a small village having one is rare. The distribution of lotus flowers, the women’s attire, and the watermill – these three elements coexist in a specific area, limited to a single point.

After all, we installed a small watermill in the village for efficient honey collection. I opened the botanical book.

“The belt you mentioned earlier, is it actually like this…?” -Ricardo

“…This is it!” -Alfina

I then spread out the map, tracing the western border mountain range and its nearby plains.

“Regarding the belt you described, it’s actually characteristic of Bergen County in the south. Within this region there are three villages…” -Ricardo

I narrowed down the area and pointed to one spot.

“…One of them, Leiria, has a watermill. So…Alfina-sama,” -Ricardo

My hand on the map was covered by Alfina’s white palm. Surprised, I looked up to find her tearful eyes gazing at me.

“Amazing. I’m glad I consulted with you. You really believe what I say, don’t you?” -Alfina

Alfina’s grip on my hand tightened, her slender fingers slipping between mine. The cool touch of her palm, likely due to her nervousness, was strangely comforting. Slowly, the warmth from our hands began to transfer between us.

“Ahem. Alfina-sama, I think you misunderstand. While he’s kind-hearted, he doesn’t just blindly trust people.” -Mia

What am I, a character with a personality disorder? I’m just a realist, operating under the belief that the only thing I can control is myself. …Damn, it’s accurate.

“…Yes, you’re right. What I’m doing now isn’t because I believe in the prophecy of disaster, but it’s a step to verify whether to believe it or not.” -Ricardo

“A verification? No, but still, you’re the first person who has truly listened to me. I still want to express my gratitude…” -Alfina

“Our time is limited, so we should move on to the next step.” -Mia

“O-oh, right, of course.” -Alfina

Realizing Mia’s gaze, Alfina hurriedly withdrew her hand, and I reflexively pulled mine away too. The map started to close, but Mia reached over to hold the page down, almost snuggling up next to me.

A-awkward. Let’s move on to the next step quickly. With this, we’ve extracted the location from the prophecy. Now, we need to narrow down the type of disaster based on this information.