Akatsuki Translations

“If I remember correctly, it’s Miss Kazahina’s,” Shuou said as he entered the grounds of Gemstone Academy, responding to the guard’s invitation after checking the orders. He walked through the garden leading to the old-fashioned school building, accompanied by Yuuhina who had offered to guide him.

“Yes, Kazahina is my older sister. I must apologize again for what happened back then,” Yuuhina replied, leading the way.

Her pace was slow. To Shuou, it seemed she was taking steps that were less than half his own, moving with deliberate quietness.

Trees were sparsely planted along the path to the school building, and flower beds scattered throughout the garden bloomed with vibrant seasonal flowers. Small birds alighted, pecking busily at the ground and filling the air with their pleasant chirping.

Shuou’s impression of the girl called Yuuhina, who had come to greet him, was faint. He vaguely remembered being introduced to her once when he was staying at the Adulelia main house, but the events that followed had been so intense that he had pushed the memory aside.

The one thing that symbolized his relationship with her, as Yuuhina herself had mentioned, was that Shuou had saved her life in exchange for his own safety.

Yuuhina, being Kazahina’s blood relative, had one major difference in appearance from her sister. Her hair was as black as the shadows within twilight.

As they walked, Yuuhina glanced at Shuou, seemingly sensing his thoughts. She lifted her hair that fell over her shoulders.

“This looks strange, doesn’t it?” she asked. “It’s completely different from Kazahina’s hair. Even though we’re sisters, it’s hard to believe, isn’t it?”

Shuou immediately shook his head. Aside from her hair color, Yuuhina’s features closely resembled Kazahina’s. Her large, cool eyes were a light purple, and her refined nose and mouth hinted at her strong character. Even though her hair color was vastly different from Kazahina’s and Amue’s, the Adulelia family head, the way her hair curled outwards at the ends was a trait strongly inherited from her sister.

“You look very similar,” Shuou observed. “It’s like talking to a younger version of Miss Kazahina.”

Shuou noticed Yuuhina’s mouth twitch downward for a moment.

Yuuhina stopped, lowered her chin slightly, and then resumed walking.

Feeling an inexplicable awkwardness in the lull of the conversation, Shuou decided to change the subject.

“How did you know I was coming?” he asked. “Even I only received the instructions yesterday.”

“We got word from home,” Yuuhina explained. “I was told to take care of you during your assignment here.”

“Take care of me? You mean, you’ll be looking after me?” Shuou questioned, surprised.

“Yes, please consider me your aide during your stay. Or a lady-in-waiting, if you prefer,” Yuuhina replied.

Shuou was baffled by this unexpected offer.

“I can take care of myself,” he protested.

“That won’t do,” Yuuhina insisted. “The order to assist you came directly from Lady Orthoclase. For the Adulelia clan, the words of the head are equivalent to those of a king. But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t happy for this chance to repay my debt. Please, consider it an act of mercy and allow me the opportunity to repay the debt I owe you for my life.”

Although her words seemed pleading, Yuuhina’s tone was as sharp and cold as an icicle. Shuou, not knowing her well, couldn’t immediately judge whether this was a genuine offer.

“I’ll think about it,” Shuou replied, wanting to refuse outright but considering Yuuhina’s position and proposing a temporary compromise.

“Very well,” Yuuhina responded curtly.

As they walked at a leisurely pace, Shuou observed the exterior of Gemstone Academy. The moss-covered outer walls were intricately assembled like a puzzle of irregularly shaped stones. This architectural style, which used no reinforcing materials in the joints, was something he had never seen in the urban areas of Murakumo.

Growing bored with the sleepy appearance of the school building standing in the morning mist, Shuou broke the silence by bringing up Kazahina, their mutual acquaintance.

“How’s your sister doing?” he asked.

Yuuhina hunched her shoulders as if they were tied with strings when asked about her sister’s recent situation.

“She’s well. Kazahina always is,” she replied, her tone decidedly prickly.

Shuou now realized how comparatively gentle Yuuhina’s attitude towards him had been up until this point.

“Is there something bothering you?” he probed.

Yuuhina lowered her gaze. Her already slow pace became even heavier.

“Kazahina is… strange,” she said.

Shuou nodded involuntarily, remembering the image of Kazahina pressing her face into freshly laundered clothes with an expression of ecstasy.

“She has no sense of self,” Yuuhina continued. “I’ve heard that since childhood, she would be crying one moment and then suddenly switch to cheerful laughter the next, unnerving the adults around her. As far as I know, Kazahina grew up exactly the same way. It’s unsettling how she seems to change her personality depending on who she’s with.”

There seemed to be a significant gap between Shuou’s and Yuuhina’s interpretation of the word “strange.”

To Shuou, Kazahina was a person who, despite some odd tendencies, was honorable, a capable Bright, and a compassionate, talented woman.

“She helped me without hesitation and is also my sword master,” Shuou said. “I can’t find words to speak ill of her after hearing that.”

Yuuhina finally stopped walking. With her face still lowered, she covered her left fist with her right hand.

“I’m sorry for complaining,” she said. “It’s not that I hate Kazahina. When she nursed me back to health, I felt some familial affection. She excels as a Bright and serves as an aide to the head of the family at a young age. Even the adults who used to dislike her now watch her every move. She’s an excellent, capable sister to be proud of. But… I just can’t get comfortable with her.”

Yuuhina said she wanted Shuou to know this and resumed walking.

Everyone has topics they’d rather not discuss. The conversation about Kazahina, which Shuou had hoped might help them find common ground, seemed to be one such topic for Yuuhina.

They were led into a spacious entrance hall, beyond which stretched long corridors to the left and right. The corridors, so long their ends were hazy, were lined with neatly arranged doors leading to what must be classrooms. The sight was impressive.

From what Shuou could see, the vast school building was a single-story rectangular structure with a spacious grassy courtyard in the center. As Yuuhina led him there, he noticed an elderly man who looked like a gardener, crouched down and weeding.

Ignoring the old man silently engrossed in his work, Shuou asked Yuuhina, “I should have asked earlier, but where are you taking me?”

“To Chief Instructor Manika. You should be able to report your arrival there,” Yuuhina replied.

She was clearly aware of Shuou’s situation and was guiding him to the appropriate place. If he had come alone, he would surely have been wandering around lost by now.

They walked through the courtyard for a while before entering the north corridor. There was no sign of anyone around.

“It’s quiet,” Shuou observed.

“In a little while, it will become lively with the noise of students arriving. Almost too noisy, in fact,” Yuuhina responded.

After walking down the north corridor for a bit, they turned a corner and Yuuhina suddenly stopped upon seeing a female student appear.

The approaching female student also seemed to notice Yuuhina, and they locked eyes with each other.

When they were close enough to speak, the girl facing them raised her head with an unpleasant smile.

“My, Yuuhina, what are you doing here so early? Surely you’re not old enough to be mixing up the time,” she said in a sarcastic tone.

The girl who spoke so nastily appeared to be about Yuuhina’s age, with a pale yellow-green miracrystal and hair tied in pigtails on either side. She was beautiful but had a sharp look in her eyes and an air of haughtiness, her chest puffed out as she looked down on them.

“Good morning, Azua,” Yuuhina replied. “It seems you came to school without brushing your teeth after waking up. I can smell it from here.”

Yuuhina covered her nose with her hand. Azua’s face turned red as she raised her voice.

“I-I did brush them!” she sputtered.

Yuuhina coolly brushed off the response with a sniff. “If that’s how they smell after brushing, I apologize for my insensitive comment.”

“Grrr…” Azua glared at Yuuhina with angry eyes, seemingly unable to think of a comeback.

“Well then, if you’ll excuse us. I’m in the middle of escorting this gentleman,” Yuuhina said.

At Yuuhina’s words, Azua turned her gaze to Shuou.

“And who might this be?” she asked, her eyes falling on the miracrystal on the back of Shuou’s left hand.

Yuuhina shifted her body to block Azua’s view, standing in front of Shuou.

“An important guest of our family,” she stated.

Azua tilted her head to the side. “Of the Adulelia clan’s…?”

Shuou frowned as he was scrutinized like some rare specimen.

Azua’s face broke into a knowing smile. “As expected of the mad dog clan, even your guests seem to be of questionable character—”

Yuuhina took a step forward and silently glared at Azua.

Like a frog caught in a snake’s gaze, Azua’s smile became strained.

“W-well, it doesn’t matter!” she stammered. “I came to return a book. I must hurry before classes start. If you’ll excuse me. Good day.”

With a polite bow, Azua hurried past Yuuhina and Shuou, her gait almost a run, as if fleeing.

“Who was that?” Shuou asked.

“Azua Serpentia, a classmate who reeks of a snake just by existing,” Yuuhina replied. “She’s always causing trouble, bringing up family matters. It’s exhausting.”

Hearing the name Serpentia, Shuou understood the tense atmosphere between the two girls.

Thinking back, Azua did strongly resemble the characteristics of that certain clan Shuou knew. The confined environment of Gemstone Academy seemed to force the children of these rival families into close proximity.

“Let’s go. We’ve wasted enough time,” Yuuhina urged.

Shuou followed her lead.

After walking a bit, they came across an entrance in the corner of the corridor that exuded a strange atmosphere. A sign nearby bore words strongly warning against entering.

“What’s this?” Shuou asked.

“It’s a dungeon,” Yuuhina answered.

“A dungeon? In a school?”

“This leads to the practical training grounds. The grounds are on the other side of the mountain, so normally one would have to walk over the mountain to get there. However, if you go through here, you can reach it effortlessly. Sometimes, those seeking an easy way out try to challenge this dungeon.”

Shuou stared intently at the dark entrance of the dungeon, unable to see what lay beyond.

“Is it dangerous inside?”

Yuuhina tilted her head. “Well, I’ve never entered myself. But I’ve often heard rumors since childhood about people losing their lives or students never coming out again. Though none of these stories seem very credible.”

If there was any truth to it, this dungeon seemed inappropriate for a place where children lived.

The story Yuuhina told couldn’t be dismissed as mere rumor due to the ostentatious warning sign at the entrance. However, if this dungeon was truly dangerous, it would mean that the adults managing this place were aware of the danger yet chose not to seal the entrance. It was a strange situation.

“Many upperclassmen have attempted to conquer the dungeon,” Yuuhina continued. “Some tried running a string from the entrance, others left markers. Some even managed to reach the other side safely. But for some reason, the string or markers would disappear completely after a while, returning everything to its original state. I’ve also heard stories of people memorizing the route, only to find they couldn’t pass through again even when following the same path.”

As he listened, Shuou felt a chill run down his spine.

“That’s creepy,” he muttered.

“Yes, which is why not many students come near here. Please, it’s best to pretend it doesn’t exist,” Yuuhina advised.

“…I’ll do that,” Shuou agreed. He had no interest in actively seeking danger from such a suspicious place.

As he followed Yuuhina, who had resumed walking, Shuou looked back.

The entrance to the dungeon, emitting an eerie, howling sound, looked like a mouth opened wide, ready to swallow something.

As they arrived at a room with a larger entrance than the others, Yuuhina turned and bowed.

“This is Chief Instructor Manika’s office. Please inquire about further details inside. As it’s nearly time for classes to begin, I’ll take my leave here. I’ll see you later,” she said.

After thanking her and parting ways, Shuou stood before the door, taking a deep breath to calm himself. He knocked, and a hoarse elderly woman’s voice responded, “Come in.”

Entering the room, Shuou saw an old woman seated at a desk, peering at him over small round glasses she had lowered slightly. Her hair was white, and her face bore deep wrinkles, but she had a stern, dignified air. Her large eyes and refined features hinted at how beautiful she must have been in her youth.

“My name is Shuou. I’ve come to introduce myself, having received orders to be assigned here,” he said, handing over his orders.

The old woman raised her glasses and scrutinized the document closely.

“I see… so it was true,” she murmured, then fixed her gaze on the back of Shuou’s left hand. Her expression immediately soured.

With a posture belying her apparent age, she stood up straight.

“I am Manika Anru, the head instructor. We had requested a replacement for a vacant swordsmanship instructor position, but I never imagined someone like you would be sent. To be honest, I’m perplexed. You seem to be in a similar state.”

Shuou nodded casually, scratching the back of his neck. “It was quite sudden. I’m not even sure why I’m here myself.”

Manika sighed. “I’m sure. This is unprecedented in Gemstone Academy’s long history. However, the orders are official, issued directly by Lord Gwen himself. It seems our academy’s principal is already aware, so there’s no use dwelling on doubts. Let’s not overthink it.”

Manika’s attitude was softer than Shuou had anticipated. He knew how unusual it was in noble society for someone with a colorless miracrystal to be appointed to teach swordsmanship to high-born children.

He had braced himself for snide remarks or harassment, but Manika, while visibly perplexed, seemed to be accepting the situation matter-of-factly. She appeared less rigid than her stern appearance suggested. From their brief interaction, Shuou sensed a forward-thinking, optimistic personality.

He found himself forming a positive first impression of Manika.

“I’d like to show you around immediately, but unfortunately, there are no swordsmanship classes scheduled at this time. I also have some unfinished work—”

“I’ll wait,” Shuou said simply.

Manika nodded, her expression unchanged.

Concerned about being a disturbance, Shuou reached for the door.

“I’ll wait outside,” he offered, intending to be considerate.

But Manika frowned. “Stay seated inside. I’ll have tea brought for you.”

She rang a large bell on her desk with a clear chime.