Akatsuki Translations

The angular fireplace is built with red bricks. On the beige wall that harmonizes with the fireplace, there is a single painting of a winter grassland. From the ceiling hangs a small bronze chandelier. The table is an oval-shaped, thick wooden one.

Alfina and I are seated on the same side of the table. We are both in our uniforms. I have no idea how much it would cost to have an outfit suitable for a ducal household. We don’t plan on coming here again anyway.

I feel uneasy. I think each individual part of the room is of high quality. However, I can’t judge if it meets the formality befitting a ducal household. And I can’t help but be surprised by the atmosphere which is more solid and sturdy than luxurious, considering that the owner of the mansion is a woman.

What I’m trying to say is that I don’t know if I’m being welcomed even just for appearance’s sake, or if I’m already being intimidated like, “This room, which is not much different from a warehouse, is good enough for a peasant like you.”

I glance at Alfina. Since the maid who served us tea left immediately, it was just the two of us in the room. She smiles at me as if asking what’s wrong. She seems the same as always, or perhaps a bit more cheerful than usual. Well, for the princess, this is her relative’s house.

Come to think of it, the whole “Please give me your daughter’s hand in marriage” thing is a kind of interview, isn’t it? In that case, “You have no right to call me your father-in-law” would be a pressured interview, right?

Wait, even if she’s a guardian, the other person is a woman. It should be a friendly feeling like, “Oh, you’re my daughter’s boyfriend?” No, no, what am I thinking? It’s too absurd even as an escape from reality. I shook my head vigorously.

“Ricardo-kun?” -Alfina

My classmate put down the cup she was sipping from on the table and tilted her head slightly. Her refinement is on a different level from mine. Each and every one of her movements naturally blends into this room. No matter how you look at it, she’s an inhabitant of a different world. No, I’m not talking about reincarnation or anything like that.

“I have no idea how to behave in front of a high-ranking aristocrat. I’m worried I might do something rude. Haha…” -Ricardo

Even though I thought it was a bit much to say to the princess, I reached for the cup. My arm stopped before touching the handle. I noticed the honey placed next to the saucer. I’m very familiar with the pale color.

It’s probably our product. Normally, I would consider it a sign of welcome. But it seems like a jab saying, “I know about you.”

They are definitely a troublesome opponent. They prepare thoroughly on their side and summon us without giving us any time to prepare. Being so unguarded against harmless commoners is too immature.

“You don’t have to be so nervous. Ricardo-kun is a guest. Auntie is a kind person, so it will be fine.” -Alfina

If you say so, my lady, then I suppose it must be true, for you.

Oh no, even my inner thoughts are turning into polite speech.

Alfina overlapped her hand with mine as if to encourage me. Physical contact is unfair. Her home presence has more of an embracing feeling than usual, and thanks to that, my heart is calming down…

“I apologize for the wait.”

At that moment, the door opened. A noble lady entered with a maid and a butler in tow. Alfina hurriedly let go of my hand.

The noble lady has her luxurious blonde hair bundled in a spiral and hanging from her shoulders. If she were to wear a crown, I would believe it if someone told me she was a queen. She gestured for us, who were about to stand up, to remain seated, and with long strides, she walked over and sat on the opposite side. Her movements were more dashing than elegant. I heard she was in her early thirties, but she looks like she’s only in her mid-twenties.

This is Archduchess Euphylia Berthold. Alfina’s aunt.

The heroic woman in a dress opens the feathered fan she received from the maid. The atmosphere was as if she was about to be executed during the French Revolution but managed to get through it.

“Well, thank you for coming. And thank you for taking care of my niece the other day. I must express my gratitude.” -Euphylia

“Not at all. It was the utmost honor to serve as the princess’s guide.” -Ricardo

You’re the one who pushed her onto me. I returned her properly before the curfew, so I have nothing to be ashamed of. I bark inside my mind at the eyes that don’t seem to be smiling at all. A loser’s grumbling is still respectable as long as the opponent can hear it.

“My niece is a bit too sheltered, you see. I was also worried about that. She needs to learn to play with fire a little, don’t you think?” -Euphylia

The Archduchess hid her mouth with the feathered fan as she spoke.

“Huh?!” -Ricardo

“Auntie?!” -Alfina

I almost knock over the cup I was reaching for. Alfina also covers her mouth and hurriedly puts down her cup.

“Hmm? Is that not the case? The usually quiet Alfie having a tryst using me as an excuse. Leaving in the morning and returning in the evening, oh my…” -Euphylia

“Your Grace, there’s a limit to your jokes. I was fully occupied with work at the trading company and collecting samples for the experiment I will explain today. Alfina-sama was helping me the entire time in the village.” -Ricardo

“What about during the carriage ride? It was just the two of you inside, wasn’t it?” -Euphylia

So there was some kind of guard far away after all. Well, this is within expectations. If I remember correctly, important figures carry a magical tool version of a personal security alarm, right?

“In any case, just being a classmate of Her Royal Highness is too much for someone like me.” -Ricardo

“Oh, the letter of introduction from that eccentric old man says you’re a cheeky brat who doesn’t give a hair’s worth of value to social status.” -Euphylia

That old man. What happened to the perfect letter of recommendation? I can’t bear it if he’s staging a life-threatening situation for me out of a playful spirit.

“Besides, Alfie also seemed happy that you don’t treat her as a princess.” -Euphylia

“T-that’s, this time Ricardo-kun cooperated not because he was forced to due to my status, but um, because there was a verifiable hypothesis…” -Alfina

Alfina’s cheeks turned red. She was completely caught off guard.

“Alfina-sama sought knowledge in order to fulfill her role as a priestess. It just so happens that Chief Librarian Fuglsig and I possessed that knowledge. Also, that village is an important place for our trading company. For a small trading company that could be blown away by the wind, losing even one business partner is a big deal.” -Ricardo

I emphasized the interests at stake. I have no intention of pretending to be loyal to the princess. There’s no way they would believe such a thing. If it were me, I would never trust such a person.

And there are interests at stake for this woman, the lady of Berthold. I looked at the high-ranking aristocrat with the eyes of a negotiator.

“Then, let’s move on to the main topic. It was about the crisis approaching our territory. Alfina’s prophecy. Evidence of the disaster brought from the west has been found. It’s hard to believe a story about a monster flood.” -Euphylia

“From now on, we will explain the path we took to reach that conclusion. Please make your own judgment after that, Your Grace.” -Ricardo

“Of course, that’s my intention. I wouldn’t decide on an important matter for my territory, let alone the kingdom, based on the words of a single boy.” -Euphylia

The Archduchess’s eyes narrowed. The intensity of her gaze increased. Is this what they call the overwhelming presence of a ruler? The force of a person who routinely carries the fate of thousands and tens of thousands of people on their shoulders?

It’s just my perception, but a baron is like a village chief, a viscount is like a town mayor, a count is like a city mayor, and a marquis is like a prefectural governor. And the one in front of me is an archduchess, someone I can’t even imagine, having never even met the head of the city where I lived in Japan.

This is where the real deal begins.

“First, based on the image of the prophecy seen by Alfina-sama, and considering the geographical conditions and customs. We confirmed that the village that appeared in the prophecy was Leiria Village. Especially on this point, Alfina-sama herself confirmed it.” -Ricardo

Alfina nodded. I continue my explanation. Narrowing down the candidates for the disaster, considering methods for verification, and the experiment. I line up the grounds and conclusions while being conscious of the key points of logical development. I’m trying to summarize it concisely, but it takes time to explain each point.

I pause in between and gauge the reaction. However, the Archduchess keeps her mouth covered with the feathered fan, not letting her expression be read. She only slightly moved her eyebrows at the table of rainfall and harvest amounts organized by Mia.

It’s difficult. It might be better if she at least argued back. Well, with my presentation skills, I’d probably freeze the moment she interrupts.

“…From the obtained pattern of the western magic veins, the hypothesis that a monster flood will occur this year has been verified.” -Ricardo

I arrived at the conclusion. The Archduchess closed her feathered fan. I prepared for a rebuttal.

“What do you think about prophecies?” -Euphylia

The question that came was unexpected.

“To put it bluntly, do you believe in such things as prophecies?” -Euphylia

“Auntie. I certainly…” -Alfina

“No, I didn’t believe in them.” -Ricardo

“…Ricardo-kun.” -Alfina

I dared to say it. I’m not lying. That’s why I put all my effort into turning the prophecy into a prediction.

“That’s right. To tell you the truth, there hasn’t been a shrine maiden princess who can read the Crystal of Prophecy in three generations. Prophecies are made from the amount of rainfall, just like you did. We have magical tools distributed in various places to record the amount of rain. Of course, the method is not as rigorous as yours. By the way, the draft for this year’s prophecy predicts the usual harvest for both the east and west.” -Euphylia

“But, Auntie. If a monster flood occurs in the east, wouldn’t the prophecy be wrong?” -Alfina

“According to the calculations I just heard, there is a difference, but it’s not that significant. Who’s going to complain if the usual harvest turns into a slightly bountiful one?” -Euphylia

The Archduchess casually revealed the true state of affairs. It’s clear that prophecies are treated as a farce, considering how Alfina is treated. I’m rather impressed that there was even a seed of truth.

“However, unfortunately, there is a high possibility that the ‘monster flood’ will occur. Starting from Alfina-sama’s prophecy, Chief Librarian Fuglsig, Mia, and I have created this prediction together with Alfina-sama. Please judge not whether a disaster will occur in the west, but whether a monster flood will occur in the west.” -Ricardo

“Regardless of Alfie’s prophecy, signs of a monster flood are emerging from the Western Mountains. As an aristocrat of the kingdom, as a lady with territory in the west, what will you do? That’s what you want to say. I see, you really are a cheeky brat.” -Euphylia

I nodded. The Archduchess placed the feathered fan under her chin and fell silent.

“–And expected damage?” -Euphylia

“We have calculated it based on the era when there was no subjugation in the east. Even if it’s small-scale, the area within a few dozen garges[1] from Rubel Wald will be swallowed by hordes of monsters. There are at least twenty villages in that area, including Leiria. Berthold, protected by city walls, may be fine, but the surrounding villages won’t be unscathed. Of course, if that happens…” -Ricardo

In negotiations, the most important thing is always the interests of the other party. Not the overall interests. That’s because the other party is basically a representative of a part. Even if the other party is the top, that doesn’t change.

Even in the unlikely event that the other party falls into a very small exception, it still works. The other party will arbitrarily extrapolate and consider it for the whole.

“You don’t need to say everything. In the first place, if the food from the surroundings disappears, the city will simply perish.” -Euphylia

This is a world where transportation takes time and effort, different from Japan where food can be transported from across the sea. If the distance is even slightly far, even if there is a region with a bountiful harvest, famine will strike. The reason why there’s hardly any of that in the kingdom is not simply because the harvest is large, but because it’s stable.

Of course, my belief is that merchants are there for when that stability collapses. …Although it’s too late now, why am I directly involved?

“Then, there’s something else I’d like to ask.” -Euphylia

The Archduchess placed the feathered fan on the table. She mentioned the necessary scale of the knight order and the types of monsters that could appear. I answered based on the knowledge I had heard from Fuglsig in advance.

“…I see. I understand what you’re trying to say.” -Euphylia

The Archduchess picked up the feathered fan placed on the table again. The sound of swallowing saliva echoed twice.

“Very well. I shall share this conclusion as well. Naturally, I will take action to share it with the kingdom as well.” -Euphylia

“Thank you very much.” “Thank you very much, Auntie.” ­-Ricardo&Alfina

Alfina let out a cry of joy. I honestly lowered my head. I’m honestly relieved.

“Ah, Alfina did well. It was my lack of insight not to listen to your words.” -Ricardo

As if to say well done, the Archduchess spread her fan and spoke with satisfaction.

“Not at all. Besides, all of this was possible because Ricardo-kun played a central role.” -Alfina

“Absolutely not. Alfina-sama, who tried to fulfill her duty without regard for her own position. Chief Librarian Fuglsig, who established the theory to predict the monster flood…” -Ricardo

As if to warn me of my carelessness, the self-preservation alarm suddenly starts ringing.

“That’s right, the remaining problem is there.” -Euphylia

The sound of the fan closing interrupted my words. Ostentatiously placing the tip of the fan against her own brow, the high-ranking aristocrat shook her head.

“I can understand your story. However, I can’t understand how a 15-year-old commoner boy can come up with the explanation you just gave.” -Euphylia

TL Note(s)

[1] I’m just gonna assume “garge” is a unit of measurement for distance.