Kyou kara Ma no Tsuku Jiyuugyou! Vol 11 Chapter 8
By request, the coffin scene! Heheh... Yes, that would be the coffin scene that Sara stole away from Conrad in the anime. This one.
This is a rough translation of the last chapter of novel 11. There are probably a bunch of mistakes here, eep! I just continued on after the coffin part because it was so interesting. I havent read the rest of the novel, so there are few plot things that wont make sense and that I cant explain yet. (Though Ill try my best to clear up stuff if you have questions.) Basically, Yuuri pa.s.sed out in the previous chapter, and he wakes up in the coffin with Conrad. Theyre making an escape, but Conrad is still with Dai Shimaron at this point.
Theres also another ConYuu-ish scene toward the end, and overall its got some...very interesting dynamics between Josak, Conrad, and Yuuri. The kind of dynamics that make me want to scream "Aw yeah, threesome!" really loudly.
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My throat and the back of my eyes really hurt.
Its just like, right before you come down with the flu, one of the symptoms is that the pressure in your eyes increases. My mother says that its because too much blood is flowing in the capillaries around the eyes that it feels like theres smoke in them and you cant stop tearing up. At this time, itll hurt too much to open my eyes, but I cant keep them closed, either. If I keep my eyelids shut like this, Ill definitely fall asleep.
Thats why Ive made up my mind to open my eyes.
I had no idea it would be darkness all around, or that the ceiling would be unusually low. It kind of feels like theres not enough air in here.
My right hand is still a little numb; I cant feel anything when I try to wiggle my fingers, as if its not my own hand. When I could lift it with great difficulty, I hit a wooden board. The impact caused some joints to creak, but luckily it doesnt seem as if theres anything wrong with my bones. If I had broken them, I probably couldnt even move a centimeter. This is considered great luck in the middle of really bad luck.
"Are you awake?"
Perhaps he felt me moving around, but there was suddenly someone next to me, speaking softly. I was just thinking that I should say that, though its a bit of a tight squeeze in here, its also quite warm, so there must be someone leaning against me. Looks like I dont have to worry about being the only person in this cramped place.
"...Conrad?"
"Yes."
"What is this place?"
"Inside a coffin."
"Oh, no! Ive kicked the bucket!"
"No."
The shaking of his abdominal muscles. .h.i.ts my elbow, so I immediately know that hes holding back his laughter.
"So thats why the ceiling is so low, and Im sharing a coffin with you... How did this happen? What - arent there enough coffins in the world anymore?"
"Its not like that; youre not dead!"
Then why am I in a coffin... Before I can even speak, the back of my head smacked against the wall. Our wooden crate is swaying a lot. Could it be that were being transported somewhere? I almost bit my tongue.
"Why is it swaying?"
"Dont speak."
I can hear the dialogue coming through from the other side of the wooden boards - its Seisakokus language. A man with an extremely arrogant, loud tone is blaming another person.
"Thats probably a guard on patrol. Its also possible that hes here on an inspection. If the coffin is opened, please try to play dead."
"Got it, Ill try to play dead. Whoooooa, thats not right. Even if thats what you say, the problem here is that this is a coffin designed for one person, and there are two people in it. How can that look normal?"
"Josak is in the coffin before us, so itll be all right. Shh! Dont speak!"
Right now, I can hear rustling cloth and hinges creaking. The coffin in front, where Josak is lying in, is being opened. Good luck, Josak!
The quieter it is, the more I want to sneeze. Luckily, I dont have allergies, and there arent any flies or mosquitoes buzzing around in this tiny s.p.a.ce. But, whats giving me trouble is that Im going to hiccup. Even if I want to hold my mouth shut with my hand, thats not possible because I cant move my hands. Just as I couldnt hold it in anymore, a palm that wasnt mine pressed against my throat and mouth. The coolness of the touch suppressed the urge to hiccup.
As I hold my breath, I finally hear the sound of the neighboring coffin being firmly shut, and the cloth covering the coffin is put back in place. Now theres a loud wailing coming from outside, but I know that its just the sound of the examiner puking his guts out after he saw the corpse. Suddenly, I want to laugh instead of hiccup.
They saw Josak pretending to be dead. How depressing was his expression as he laid in the coffin? It looks like Gurrier is truly a star actress.
After a while, as the cargo carriage started to slow down, we both let out a long sigh of relief at the same time.
"Good, it looks like they fell for it."
"How in the world did this happen? Why are we together in... Didnt I fall from the balcony?"
When that last thought came to me, everything gradually fell into place in my mind like a chain reaction. I also remembered that Im not on polite terms with Lord Weller.
"Im strangely uninjured after falling out of a window and onto the stones of the courtyard. Thats way too lucky."
"You fell into this freight car! You just made it into a bale of hay."
What, so I dont get to rank among the people in the exceptional narrow escapes TV program?
"Gurrier and I jumped down soon after. Fortunately, we found you before the city guards, but because there was nowhere to run..."
"That time, was your sleeve rolled up by any chance, so that your arm... Whats going on? Since when were you the type to get a tattoo just because its fashionable?"
"Thats not it!"
According to Conrad, as soon as the owner of this carriage saw the scar on my left hand, he drove us, along with the straw, to an inconspicuous place. Then, at that place, we met up with a funeral services organization and they took over, pretending to transport the deceased out to the countryside.
The young woman who said the name Benila as she carved a hexagon into me with her short nails - it couldnt have been some kind of pa.s.sport, could it? I never expected that it would serve that kind of purpose. Anyway, the shape of it kind of looks like a diamond.
Like before, when we were preparing to embark from the castle, in the courtyard there was a boy drawing on the ground. He was also loudly singing a familiar song. What song was that? Whats the name of that song? Josak hadnt heard it before, but Conrad and I had an impression of it.
"Thats right, Conrad, that song..."
"Because there were only two coffins, but three of us, we had to share. Do you feel uncomfortable? However, if it was me and Josak, we wouldnt even fit... What were you saying just now?"
"No, its nothing."
"Moreover, if Your Majesty tried to share a coffin with Josak, the coffin lid wouldnt fit correctly because of his biceps. Although Josak was opposed to it, we finally decided on this."
At this point, a soft knock came from the other coffin. It was the sound of someone using a finger to tap the inside of the coffin. I also hit the board to my right to respond - dont worry, Im all right.
"Your Majesty?"
Lord Wellers voice sounded very surprised. Because its pitch black inside and I cant even see his face, I can only use his tone of voice and body temperature to guess.
"Is there something you wish to say to me?"
"I was only wondering if you were going to kill me."
The others breath immediately stopped.
"Josak and I were both thinking the same thing."
The heartbeat under my arm starts to get faster.
"Something like that actually happened out at sea, so..."
"Its all right now."
In a voice that was so quiet that I couldnt tell if it he was breathing or speaking, he continued to say:
"Theres no exit here, I wont push you."
"Exit?"
"Never mind, its nothing. Anyway, I know this is not the time to invite domestic troubles."
"Ah, domestic troubles..."
Before these domestic troubles, I didnt know whether I could consider him my comrade. Were Shin Makokus representatives; Lord Weller is an emissary from Dai Shimaron. Not only that, but not long ago, he was even protecting Saralegui, who had been separated from his trusted subordinate.
His nationality and his stance regarding Shou Shimarons King Saralegui and the Emperor of Seisakokus little brother Yelsi, both are different from ours now.
"Perhaps you dont consider me to be your comrade."
Hearing Conrad murmur these words, I thought to myself, "Ah~ Thats actually not wrong." From the time he wouldnt take the hand I held out for him, I had already prepared my heart to accept that he will never return to my side. So, for me, the words that hes saying are really unexpected.
"Listening to the manner in which Saralegui speaks, it appears that he wants to keep you by his side. No matter how he thinks, hes still a seventeen year old young man. Traveling with you, someone whos not only the same age, but also shares the same position, must feel good. He appreciates you very much."
"Appreciates... When I almost died at his hand?!"
If were talking about winning someones friendship, thats a horrible way to do things.
"Because he was waiting, waiting for you to kneel before him and beg for forgiveness."
"As if I would become someone like that."
He chuckles, but then immediately recovers and adopts a solemn tone.
"Please promise me one thing."
"Promise you something? Depends on what it is. I wont do it if its an unreasonable request."
Conrad shakes his head. His bangs keep rubbing against my cheek.
"This has to do with your safety. If those brothers have you trapped..."
He paused, and the rhythm of his heartbeat sped up to four beats per measure.
"Please do whatever you want to do. Dont hold back because of me or Gurrier. That guy wont kill you, he definitely wont. Although he looks at others as if they were nothing but insects, hes different with you. He wont want your life - Sara wont harm you."
"Because he appreciates me? Oh, thats rich!"
I close my eyes to reduce the pain. I keep blinking - tears are slowly trickling out around my eyelids.
"If he appreciates me, then shouldnt he also appreciate you? Not long ago, you were responsible for looking after me, and in that bedroom you were even acting as his living coat hanger! How could he hate Lord Weller, huh?"
"But I know too much now."
I didnt ask him about what he knew.
Shou Shimarons King Saralegui plans to make contracts between Seisakoku and Shin Makoku that will be favorable to himself, and then hell use that huge combined force to take control of the world. In his grand plan, there is no Dai Shimaron. Rather, he considers Belals Dai Shimaron to be an enemy nation.
So, in regards to Dai Shimaron, Shou Shimaron already has domestic troubles. The situation is very urgent.
"So thats how it is. Saralegui plans to betray Dai Shimaron. But wait, knowing of this, you..."
"Im sure Saralegui does not intend to let me go back alive."
"Wont let you...live... Ah, that hurts!"
A severe shake almost made me bite my tongue, but then the carriage stopped on some soft ground. Looks like this is the place where the funeral services guys open the coffins. I close my eyes first so the bright light wont blind me, but I guess it wasnt necessary. It turns out that it was already night.
"Andrew-- Poggi Poggina--"
"Oh~ So there it is, theres the tomb."
"Take a stroll, Benila, take a stroll."
Benila is a guidebook?!1 Seisakokus language is really hard to understand.
"Young master, its good to see you well! Really, youve been so rash even since you were a child."
Josak gets off the carriage and hugs me tightly. Although Im being flung back and forth by him like a shotput, I can still hear Conrad step onto the soft, wet ground and speak.
"Weve finally escaped. It hasnt come to being buried in this graveyard."
He looks at the toes of his boots, then lifts his head to look around at all the gravestones. The cemetery is full of mold, and the wind blows mercilessly over our hair and cheeks.
I dont have any adjectives in my mind that are suitable for this situation, so I just couldnt help but say, "Really? You must feel very empty, Lord Weller."
"What?"
Josak lets out a surprised sound.
"Isnt that right? Not long ago, you two were still so close. Didnt you even bathe and sleep together2... I didnt see it, so Im just guessing. And hes so pretty and cute, too. Today youve suddenly become a different person... How can I understand what youre thinking? Youve done a total 180! I also... Why do you guys have that kind of expression?"
Josak and Conrad are both looking at me like theyve just been punched in the stomach and had the wind knocked out of them. Gurriers mouth is even partly open.
And after I especially expressed concern for them, they really have no manners.
"But anyway, here Im the only king."
I toed the soft ground.
"Its okay if you call me Your Majesty sometimes."
...If I keep kicking, Ill probably dig up some bones.
Lord Weller still hasnt returned to his previous self? To return to how things were in the past, simple and happy, is most likely impossible. But at least now in Seisakoku, the three of us are comrades.
I dont need to guess; I suspect Ive hurt him.
But what made me even more surprised, when I discovered the reason, was that my mind is a lot more relaxed than I had thought.
Suddenly, a dogs bark sounded in the distance, and the indistinct light of nearby torches appeared. Is it the soldiers tailing us? Or is it a guard on patrol who noticed something strange? Whatever it is, we cant stay here long. We have to find a way out; run somewhere to hide.
"Hurry, light the torch..."
"If we light it, well be discovered."
"Your Majesty, look!"
Josak points at the sky.
"Dont we also have the moonlight?"
I dont know what to do. A shadow darker than night flitted across my vision. In this cemetary, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, there are other people besides us.
"Over here!"
The shadow gave a brief, piercing whistle to the pack of dogs, making them even more excited.
"Hurry!"
That shadow lifted up its right hand as we pa.s.sed by. Was that a signal to the dogs? We dont even have time to hesitate; we can only follow them. The leader is entirely shrouded in a cloak, but judging from the pet.i.te figure, I think its very likely that this is a woman. If thats the case, then in this pitch black graveyard, weve met a life-saving G.o.ddess.
When we, because we climbed a wall, jumped over a ditch and ran for our lives until we couldnt catch a breath anymore, the G.o.ddess finally stopped moving. This is a place that stinks to high heaven, like a bog of some sort. Although there are two or three temporary dwellings set up, no matter how I look at it, this is uninhabitable.
Theres light coming from the little huts.
Illuminated under the flame, I can finally see the appearance of our savior. Hidden under the leather cloak is the old lady who we met in the palace at dusk.
"I hear youre looking for Benila?"
She lifts up my sleeve, taking a look at the hexagonal mark that the girl on the freight carriage carved into me, then gave a satisfied grunt.
"I dont know who gave you this, but this is the symbol of the resistance. I am Benila!"
She says shes Benila?!
Thats the important noun that was in Jason and Freddys letter, and also the name that the girl on the carriage told us. I never thought that we would have met by chance, or actually that I would ever meet what I couldnt even figure out was a person or a place.
Were really lucky. I want to forget how I almost died a few minutes ago, and just raise up my hands in joy. If it wasnt for the fact that this is the woman we met before, I would run over and give her a hug.
However, with that face and filthy gray hair peeking out of the cloak, it really looks like the old lady rolled around in a cart full of manure. Did Jason and Freddy want to tell me that for some reason or other, this old person is in danger?
Benila...hope. The letter said, "Benila hope."
"Old lady...sorry. Maam, youre Benila?"
Hearing me correct myself, she let out a laugh that was bolder than most women.
"Its fine! Young people, its fine if you call me an old lady. No matter how you look at it, Ill never be a wholesome young la.s.s, just a dirty old person. And werent you the ones who rescued our comrades child? Thank you. You have my grat.i.tude. You are truly good people."
Josaks face hasnt looked so good for a while now. He just keeps scratching his head, not adding anything to our conversation. Why is he like that? What weve said should have touched some subjects that were enough to provoke some interest in the unmatched s.e.x-related way his mind works, right?
"Your appearance is obviously that of foreigners, but youve unexpectedly turned up here. But unless you have official status, or are dependent on bribes, theres no way you can leave this island to go inland. Theres no way you could be..."
As the old lady takes off her cloak, she vigorously puts her hands on her hips. She turns and cracks he joints so loudly that it scares the three of us witless. Just seeing that pet.i.te body stretch, shes actually not humpbacked. It was only the outfit that made her look that way. But if I a.s.sumed she was young just by that, I would be wrong.
Because her face, neck, and arms are all full of wrinkles that are so deep they look like they were carved in with a knife. Judging by her face, she should be around 70-something years old, but with the brisk pace at which she walks, and the lively way she speaks, she doesnt seem like an old person at all. Also, she runs very fast. Where in the world can we find a 70-something granny who easily jumps over tall walls?
"The rumored Maous group of people?"
"How did you know about this?"
"What are you asking me?"
Benila gave me and Conrad a mischievous wink.
"Even if its a trash heap or a toilet, theyre all places where one can hear the latest gossip! And whats more, I have contacts in the palace -- our parents were all slaves. Oh, right, right!"
She used extremely bony fingers to feel around in the bag by her waist, very carefully taking something out. From its shadow, it looks to be about as big as a 500 yen coin.
"First, to return the thing you dropped. This demon stone pendant is yours, isnt it?"
On her thin, wrinkly fingers hangs a leather cord, and she raises it to let me see the blue demon stone. That stone, bluer than the sky, is glittering before me.
"Ha! Found it! This is great! I thought Id never find it again, and its here!"
"Of course it is~ After all, its an important thing. It must return to its true owner! Letting all things return to their original ownership, moreover, to their owners hands was my job in the past. But the me now, is just a lowly cart-pulling old woman..."
"Return to their owners hands..."
I thought it over for a while, and was preparing to hand the demon stone over to Lord Weller. But before my hand could even move, Conrad already had his hand folded firmly over mine, and was gently shaking his head.
"Ah-- Thats right."
Josak skillfully cleared his throat to interrupt us. However, his speech was not aimed at Benila, but at me.
"Young master, youre speaking in that foreign language that I cant understand again. What language is that? Old Calorian? If its no trouble, would you translate it so Gurrier can understand? And what the stiff-backed old madam said, too, can you translate that?"
"Eh? We were just talking like normal, werent we, Conrad?"
Lord Weller, who had become silent, just briefly said, "Hazel..."
Its another persons name. He scrunches the scarred eyebrow, and the s.p.a.ce between his eyebrows wrinkles exactly like his older brother. Josak and I, who have nothing to do with that name, can only stand to the side and watch.
"Hazel Graves, how can you still be here?"
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a.s.sorted Notes and Thoughts:
1) "Take a stroll" is apparently the name of a series of tourist guidebooks.
2) Ahem. This line originally confused me to no end, but now I believe its referring to Conrad and Sara. O_O; Oh, Yuuri... Youre growing up so fast... Well, while he literally says "sleep together", thats kind of ambiguous. I dont know if Yuuri meant it as in "sleep together" or "sleep together as in doing the funky monkey".
...Hey, did anyone else notice how Yuuri seemed jealous of Sara? It almost seemed like part of his hostility was because he felt that Sara had stolen Conrad away from him. Or am I imagining things? (Nah, Yuuri is soooo jealous. Cuz Saras so "cute" and "pretty", right? That comment was directed at Sara, right? I thought it was Josak for a while, but that didnt make much sense, haha.)
I should really start at the beginning of this novel, but whats here is really interesting. Josak seems to have been completely absorbed into the harem, now. Yuuri isnt creeped out by his crossdressing anymore, has gotten really close to him - much closer than we see in the anime. I guess his wonder-biceps just took some time to get used to, but Josak is now definitely a potential love interest?
Meanwhile, Conrad and Yuuri? Teee~nsion. Aaa~wkward. But still with that undercurrent of luff.