Akatsuki Translations

After a while, Pastry began the bondage and blindfold play. Or rather, the second rite of the sanctification ceremony.

While still concerned about his son, who is still confronting himself, his father, Casserole Mille Morteln, a knight, had been invited to a room in the church.

It was a room with furnishings, perhaps called a reception room.

Sitting in a chair, across from him was a middle-aged clergyman. He had a difficult expression on his face for a while, but the knight couldn’t figure out the cause.

No, to be precise, he knew the cause was related to his son’s sanctification. What he didn’t know was what was troubling the priest so much.

“Lord Morteln, there is something I must tell you about your son.” -Priest

“What might that be?” -Casserole

“It’s about this.” -Priest

With a thud, a lump of metal that emitted a dull glow was placed down. Commonly referred to as “light metal.”

It is known for its excellent magic storage and conduction properties and is used to quantify magical power.

This metal is essential for the first rite of the sanctification ceremony, and it’s used to measure the magical power of the person undergoing the rite.

Ancient scholars who quantified magical power using this light metal are still hailed for their significant academic achievements.

It’s well known that metals and liquids change volume with temperature. Thermometers, for example, utilize this property.

Similarly, using the fact that the mass of matter changes with magical power, they established standards and quantified it.

Such great predecessors are held in awe.

“This light metal, what about it?” -Casserole

He picked up the lump of metal.

It felt surprisingly heavy for its small size, probably as heavy as a fist-sized iron ball. The knight surmised what the priest wanted to say, as he remembered it wasn’t this heavy during his time.

“As you might have noticed when you held it, I want to discuss the amount of your son’s magical power.” -Priest

“It seems slightly abundant.” -Casserole

It’s commonly believed that the more magical power one has, the better one can utilize their abilities. Even with the relatively common “Ignition” magic, the size and duration of the fire, or the materials that can be ignited, vary depending on the amount of magical power.

Some argue that even the same magic manifests differently among individuals, but it’s widely accepted that the amount of magical power affects the quality of the magic.

“Under normal circumstances, I would offer congratulations. But the amount is excessive. To put it in perspective, if the average magical power is 1, your son’s is over 50. He probably ranks among the top three in the world.” -Priest

“Huh.” -Casserole

Here, the knight hesitated to respond.

If it was just a bit more than average, it would be a cause for celebration. But was there a problem because it was too much? Such a question suddenly arose in his mind.

” For us, the blessings received during the sanctification ceremony are customarily made public. This is because, as a church, we have a duty to faithfully report to God and His children. Many celebrate such blessings. However, if I may dare to observe the harshness and reality of the world, there are not a few who envy or resent others’ celebrations. Sadly, the bigger the blessing, the more such individuals there are.” -Priest

“It’s somewhat contradictory to hear realism from a clergyman.” -Casserole

“It’s harsh. The church is part of the human world. Even I, a mere priest, am human. We have many needs and concerns. If Lord Morteln understands and cooperates even a little, I’ll do my best to alleviate any concerns about your son.” -Priest

The knight sighed, probably anticipated by the priest.

To summarize, the priest was saying that if word got out about his son, he’d be exposed to jealousy. If he wanted to keep it within his circle, he needed to cooperate. In this case, cooperation meant financial contributions.

“If my son safely completes the second trial, I promise to cooperate as much as possible.” -Casserole

“Is that so? I’m glad you’re someone who understands. Hahaha.” -Priest

Afterward, the two continued a conversation, probing each other’s intentions.

The knight felt the priest was circling around, trying to uncover the secrets of the Morteln territory’s growth, or perhaps trying to gather information about his son’s magical power, the internal affairs of the faction to which the knight belonged, or some other rumors. It was a strategic interaction that made one wonder if priests also acted as intelligence agencies.

As they exchanged these cunning adult conversations, evening had already set in outside.

It was about time for Pastry’s trial results.

“Oh, look at the time. Time flies when filled with anticipation.” -Priest

“That’s right. Times of worry felt quite long.” -Casserole

“Hahaha, that’s parental love. Now, shall we go fetch your son?” -Priest

It seemed to be the time for worship, and devout believers, having finished their work, came to the church to thank God and the spirits for another peaceful day.

Glancing at the praying people, the knight and the priest headed downstairs.

As he entered a place carefully sealed off so that no light would leak through,

Pastry was momentarily blinded by the brightness when his blindfold was removed.

Blinking rapidly, he tried to take in his surroundings. By the time his eyes adjusted to the light, his father gently stroked his head.

“You did well on your own.” -Casserole

Hearing those words, Pastry finally felt the ordeal was over.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he stared at his father, but he told himself it was just due to the brightness.

“Now, on to the final touches.” -Priest

“Final touches?” -Pastry

The boy was puzzled, thinking it was already over.

When he was told to be careful standing up, he slowly massaged his stiff limbs as he rose. He’d been warned that standing up too quickly could cause dizziness or even fainting, so he was cautious.

“If you have acquired magic, the scripture I’m about to read should have meaning to you. With the blessing from this scripture, the sanctification ceremony will be complete.” -Priest

“Understood.” -Pastry

With that, the priest unrolled a scroll.

It probably contained the scripture.

With a melodious voice, he began.

“Though this world may be vast, with countless lives thriving within. All receive God’s grace equally, including humans. The embrace of the holy God is immeasurable, his power limitless, and his words profound and eternal. If one is blessed with a phrase from him, that grace becomes vital to them. Thou, who art Pastry Mille Morteln, should repay God’s favor with gratitude in thy heart. May God’s blessing be upon you.” -Priest

The moment Pastry understood the scripture, he suddenly comprehended his own magic. He grasped what he could and couldn’t do with his ability. He realized that the “Replication” he felt earlier was a crucial aspect of his power. And likely, this scripture itself was a form of magic.

“It seems everything went smoothly.” -Priest

His father nodded in satisfaction.

In response, Pastry nodded too.

Their interaction was in perfect harmony. Their resemblance was unmistakable, proving they were truly father and son. Naturally, even their departing figures from the room looked strikingly alike.

“Thank you for today.” -Casserole

“No, it’s our job to assist devout believers like you. We’re always here to help.” -Priest

“Please accept this as a token of my gratitude.” -Casserole

“Oh, this is very generous. We appreciate your support for the church.” -Priest

With a seemingly cheerful expression, the knight handed a leather pouch to the self-proclaimed clergyman.

As most would guess, the contents were money, with about ten silver coins inside.

“Well then, until next time.” -Casserole

“Please visit us anytime.” -Priest

After bidding farewell to the father and son, the priest checked the contents of the pouch once the pair had left.

He shook the pouch once, listening to the clink.

Quickly discerning that it contained only silver coins, he muttered to himself.

“They don’t understand, huh? After all, he’s just a backwater nobleman who won his title on the battlefield. This won’t be enough for hush money. I hope they don’t take it the wrong way.” -Priest

With a sly smile, the priest’s face looked far from that of a holy man, rather it bore the expression of a villain.

◇◇◇◇◇

“Now, before the street stalls are packed up, shall we buy some souvenirs and head back?” -Casserole

“Yes, Father. I think it would be great to buy a bonka. Let’s definitely do that.” -Pastry

“I see. You’ve come of age today, so I won’t treat you like a child any longer. I’ll give you some money, and I’ll leave the souvenirs to you. I have a place to stop by briefly, so let’s meet in the center of the square when the sun sets.” -Casserole

“Understood.” -Pastry

A boy with sparkling eyes is always a delightful sight.

In any era, the innocent desires of a child capture and never let go of the hearts of those who have grown up.

The difference between adults and children.

For men, it’s often said that the difference lies only in the amount of money they spend on their hobbies.

If that’s the case, the boy here, indulging unabashedly in his hobby, seems to already possess the qualities of an adult.

Literally, a boy who has just come of age. Or rather, now that he’s an adult, perhaps he should be called a young man, even if he still retains a hint of youthfulness.

The fruit this young man is currently engrossed in choosing is the bonka.

In modern Japan, it might fall somewhere between what’s called an apple and a pear. Whether to call it a pear or an apple is a subtle distinction for many. From the vivid green ones to those that have probably ripened to yellow, each fruit has a rich personality.

The unknown fruit is stacked at the stall. The young boy selects them with surprising seriousness, considering their scent, appearance, weight, and even sound.

After finishing some errands, the knight returns to find his son still engrossed in front of the fruits.

“Come on, if you don’t hurry, we won’t make it back before nightfall. Just choose some now.” -Casserole

At his father’s words, Pastry, making no effort to hide his reluctance, regretfully picked up about four fruits.

His small hands couldn’t hold them all, so he half-cradled them.

“Sir, I’ll throw in an extra for your enthusiasm.” -Shopkeeper

It seems there are people who have a soft spot for children. The shopkeeper, who had been watching Pastry choose with a fond smile, gave him an extra bonka, deliberately picking out the most delicious-looking one.

Pastry swallowed hard.

The tempting scent seemed to waft around. A refreshing aroma that tickled the nostrils, hinting at a tang. Moreover, this bonka was a freebie. Eating it right there and then and covering it up should be easy.

Having thought this far, resisting was impossible.

*Crunch crunch, munch munch.* “Father?” -Pastry

“Hmm? What is it?” -Casserole

Clearly, a parent and child chewing on something.

“Let’s keep the fact that we ate the tastiest one between us. Let’s not tell Mother or Sister.” -Pastry

“Agreed.” -Casserole

And in that moment, a firmly kept secret was established between the parent and child.

Kinda surprised no one is currently translating this given it has an anime out right now.

I hope y’all enjoyed this chapter. I’ll be posting this weekly on Mondays. (Donating gets you access to 3 chapters early) http://akatsukitranslations.com/donations/