P58
「確かではないが、たぶんここは、私たちの時代からそれくらい遡った時代だと思うよ」
“We’re not certain, but yes, this doesn’t seem to be our time period.”
「ってことは…」驚いたようにフリックが言う。「どうするんだよ？俺たち、このままじゃ……」
“So then… what do we do?” asked Flik, shocked. “We can’t just stay here.”
「あの剣の呪いで、過去に、か…。とにかく戻る方法を見つけないといけねえな…？」
“The sword’s curse sent us to the past, huh? Well, guess we just gotta find a way ba—”
ビクトールが、語尾を上げて言葉を止める。
Viktor stopped mid-sentence.
「おい、あの光……」
“Hey, look.”
ビクトールが指さした方向を見ると、先ほどティルたちが倒れていた場所の側、小さな祠の前に、ふわふわと丸い光が漂っていた。
They looked in the direction Viktor was pointing. A soft ball of light floated in front of the small shrine near where they had found themselves earlier.
「あの光、さっきの剣が放った光に感じが似てねえか？」
光を見やって、ビクトールが言った。
“Don’t it look like the light that came outta the sword earlier?” he asked, staring at it.
クレオも呟く。「もしかしたら、あれで元の時代に戻れるかも…」
“Maybe it will return us to our own time,” murmured Cleo.
「よし、行ってみよう」ティルの言葉に、皆が森に入ってゆく。テッドがその後をおぼつかない足取りでついてくる。
“Well, let’s go take a look,” said Tir and they walked into the forest, Ted following behind uncertainly.
祠の前に浮かんだ光を囲んだところで、再びビクトールが口を切る。
Once they reached the perimeter of the light, Viktor piped up again.
「さて、これで本当に戻れんのかな？」
“So… this is gonna take us back?”
「わからんが、ここにいるよりはマシだろう」
フリックが言った直後またもテッドが反応する。
“Beats me, but wherever it takes us can’t be any worse than this hell hole,” said Flik gruffly. Fear flashed across Ted’s face.
P59
「えっ、おにいちゃんたちも、どこかに行っちゃうの？」
“Wait! You’re leaving me, too? Where are you going?”
そんなテッドに、皆は言葉を失った。
Everyone grew quiet, at a loss for how to answer.
こんな小さな子供を、こんな焼け野原になった村に一人残して行くのは、あまりに酷だったからだ。
They couldn’t just abandon a child here all alone in the smoldering remains of his village that had been reduced to little more than a burnt field.
焦ってティルは、クレオに問いかける。「テッドを連れていくわけにいかないだろうか？」
Anxiously, Tir turned to Cleo. “We can’t take Ted with us… can we?”
「それは、どうでしょうか……」辛そうに、クレオが答える。
“I’m not sure… how that would work…” Cleo replied, clearly not relishing this dilemma, either.
「この小さなテッド君は、こちらの世界の住人てす。果たして私たちの世界に連れていけるかどうか……」
“Little Ted here belongs in this world. Even if we could actually take him back with us, it wouldn’t be right.”
「じやあ、せめて近くの村まてでいいから…」
“Well, we could at least take him to the nearest village, couldn’t we?
「ティル……」瞼を閉ざして、ビクトールが顎をしゃくった。
“Tir…” Viktor had shut his eyes and pointed with his chin.
祠の前の光は、もはや消えてしまいそうなほど、弱っていた。
The light in front of the shrine was already growing weak and looked to be on the verge of disappearing altogether.
もう、一刻の猶予も許されなかった。
They didn’t have any time to waste.
「ごめんね、テッド君……。僕らは、自分たちの世界に帰らなきゃいけないんだ……」
“I’m so sorry, Ted… we have to return to our own world…”
意を決して、ティルはテッドの前にしゃがんだ。
Tir gathered his resolve and crouched down in front of Ted,
そして寂しさに濡れた小さな瞳を見つめた。
making himself gaze straight into the little boy’s teary eyes.
「てもテッド君、僕は君に約束するよ。いつかどこかで、きっと僕らはまた会える。その時僕は、君と仲のいい友達になるんだ。だから、どんなに辛くても、負けちゃだめだ。君は決して、一人じゃないんだから……」
“Listen, Ted. I swear to you. Someday, somewhere, you and I are absolutely going to meet again. And when we do, we’re going to become best friends. So no matter how hard things get, promise me you won’t give up, okay? You’re not alone, because I’ll always be there for you.”
ティルたちが泣き疲れたテッドを連れて家を出た時、辺りには見るも無惨な光景が広がっていた。
Tir and the others carried Ted, exhausted from crying, out of the house. Surrounding them on all sides were terrible scenes of carnage.
村の建物はふたつみつつが残っているだけで後は全て焼けるか火の玉に潰されていた 。
Perhaps two or three buildings were still standing in the village, but the rest had all been burned down by the fireballs.
村を囲んでいた針葉樹林もかなりの範囲にわたって焼き尽くされ、未だに黒煙が立ち昇っている。
The pine trees surrounding the village had also been badly burnt—even now, black smoke still rose from the forest.
「なんてこった…」大きくため息をついてフリックが言う。
“What the hell…” Flik muttered, sighing.
「火が収まったのはいいがこれじゃ村の人たちは…」
“At least the fires have died down, but the villagers are all…”
ティルは何も答えられずにいたがクレオが慰めるように言う。
Tir couldn’t bear to answer his questions but Cleo responded, consoling him.
「 テッド 君、君は強い男の子なんだよね︖」
“Ted, you’re a strong boy, aren’t you?”
P57
「うん …」
“Yeah…”
「辛いだろうけど、君はこれから、もっともっと強くならなくちゃいけないんだよ。強くなって、一人て生きていかなくちゃいけないんだ」
“Good. It’s not going to be easy, but you’re going to have to become even stronger from now on. You’ll have to be strong enough to be able to survive on your own.”
「でも 僕 …」
“But I…”
テッドが寂しそうに焼けた地面に目を落とした 。
Ted looked around at the burnt landscape, forlorn.
クレオは静かにテッドの肩に手を置いて、そしてティルに視線を向けた 。
Cleo silently patted him on the shoulder, then looked at Tir.
「ティル様、たぶんこれはテッド君が言っていた三百年前の事件なのてしょう 。そしてテッド君は今から三百年の間一人て旅を続けなければいけない…」
“Lord Tir, I think we just witnessed the incident from three hundred years ago that Ted told us about. Which means that little Ted here must now go on to travel alone for those three hundred years…”
「うん、そうかもしれない…」
“Yes, I was thinking the same thing…”
ティルはクレオの言葉に胸が詰まる思いだった。
Hearing Cleo say it aloud, Tir’s chest felt so tight he could barely breathe.
こんな悲惨な事件を体験した幼いテッドは三百年後にティルと出会い先の老人と同じ運命をたどることになるのだ。
Ted experienced this horrible tragedy as a child, and we met him three hundred years later. Had his grandfather followed that same path?
ティルは慰めるようにテッドの頭に手を置いた。
In an effort to comfort him, he placed his hand on Ted’s head.
するとテッドは堪えきれなくなって、再び泣きだし、落ちる涙を拭った。
Unable to take it any longer, Ted began to cry again, wiping away his tears.
黒く不気味な紋章が宿った、その右の手で。
The darkly uncanny rune was housed in that right hand of his.
ティルはそっと自分の手袋を外すと、それをテッドの右手にはめた 。
Tir gently removed his glove from his own right hand, and placed his glove on Ted’s right hand.
手袋はテッドの小さな手には大きすぎたが、テッドはそれで少し安心したのか、少々涙が収まったようだった。
The glove was much too large for Ted, but it seemed to calm him down a little and he stopped crying.
「なあ、クレオ…」テッドが落ち着いたのを見て、ビクトールが言った。「今、三百年って言ったが、じやあここは︖」
Seeing that Ted was feeling a bit better, Viktor chimed in. “Hey, Cleo. When you say ‘three hundred years’—do you mean we’re… in the past right now?”
Suikoden I Soul Eater Light Novel Translation - Chapter 23!
For your reading pleasure and enjoyment, below the cut is the full rough English translation of chapter 23 of the official 1998 Suikoden I Soul Eater novel (volume 3 of 3).
Individual page translations and original Japanese text can be found in the chapter 23 tag. As always, feedback on translations is welcome.
Thank you so much to everyone for your support and your comments. They keep me going! Eventually I want to run a Kickstarter to officially license and print these books! Email me at [email protected] if you're interested in helping organize or run this Kickstarter.
Chapter 23: Journey to the Past
The next morning, Tir and the others departed the Warrior’s Village, galloping west to visit Qlon Temple. Flik told them he had gone to the temple with friends when he was a boy. “It’s not like we went inside though, so I don’t know much about it. Back then there was this scary old monk, Fukien. When he found us sneaking around, he got really angry and yelled at us. ‘This is no place for you brats!’. Wonder if he’s still kicking...”
While this account was not terribly reassuring, they were just happy Flik remembered where the temple was. Though they could see the Lorimar mountain range in the distance, the plains of the Lorimar region spread out around them in every direction. If they took a wrong turn, Tir doubted they would come across any man-made structures at all, never mind the one they were actually looking for. They slept outdoors twice and took any number of breaks throughout the day. Finally, past noon on the third day...
“Oh, there it is!” Flik cried, pointing west and galloping ahead. Tir and the others squinted and could just make out a light-brown building standing alone in the distance.
As they traveled on, the details of the building became clearer—it was Qlon temple, surrounded by a thin moat. The temple was octogonal and multistoried in the architectural style of the Kunan region, but made of wood. The walls were made of thin wooden planks, the roof covered in black planks. While the building looked unassuming, the fragrance of incense wafted out toward them, giving it the air of a temple.
As they stood before the temple, the heavy-looking gates slowly swung open and a man’s solemn voice greeted them. “I have long awaited your arrival, Keeper of the Stars...”
To their shock, a single man stood there. He had opened the gates alone. His head was shaved like a monk’s, and his eyes sparkled behind long eyebrows that drooped down to nearly cover them. A string of large prayer beads hung around his neck and he wore bright crimson robes.
“The old geezer’s still alive, huh?” whispered Flik. The monk shot a withering look at him and then bowed deeply to Tir. “Lord Tir, bearer of the Tenkai star of destiny. I am Fukien. I care for Qlon temple. I have waited all of you here for what seems like an eternity.”
“Master Fukien, how do you know about that?” Tir asked without thinking, as everyone got down off their horses. I thought only Leknaat knew about the stars of destiny and my role in all this.
Viktor butted in before the monk could answer. “Tenkai? Stars of destiny? What the heck are those? And you know Tir, monk?”
“Of course I do. After all, Lord Tir is the one who leads us, the heavenly stars of destiny.” Fukien turned, peering into each of their faces. “Viktor, you are under the Tenko star. Cleo, yours is the Tenman star. And Flik, who was such an obnoxious little brat not so long ago, the Tenan star. It is your destiny to band together under Lord Tir and fight.”
Tir listened to the monk’s words in wonder. He had known that he had to gather one hundred and seven allies, but he had not known which star each of them bore. However, Tir wasn’t the only one interested in what Fukien had to say. Viktor stared at Fukien in evident suspicion, while Cleo looked like she didn’t know whether or not to believe the elderly man. Flik clicked his tongue. “So he does remember me...”
“Lord Fukien, do you remember Flik?” asked Cleo and the old monk grinned. “Indeed I do. I scolded this mischievous little boy once, long ago. He rode all the way here on a horse to scribble graffiti on my temple walls. Caused me quite the headache.”
Looking up at Flik, who hung his head, embarrassed, Fukien went on. “But seeing him now, accompanying the Tenkai star in accordance with the stars of destiny brings me some peace of mind.” He turned to Tir. “Lord Tir, what you seek lies within this temple.”
Before Tir could respond, Viktor’s attitude toward the monk completely changed. “Really?! Why didn’t ya say so sooner, old man! Finally, we can take down Neclord!”
“Oh, yes.” Fukien said, gazing at Viktor. “What you seek lies within this temple as well, Viktor.”
“Huh?” Confusion showed on Viktor, Flik, and Cleo’s faces. Only Tir understood what Fukien meant. They had come to this temple seeking different things—Tir wanted to discover the true nature of the Soul Eater, and Viktor was looking for a method to defeat Neclord.
Fukien calling them all by name had been enough for Tir to believe in his powers of observation.
An answer to the riddle of the Soul Eater is right here in front of me.
“Then, by all means, Lord Fukien...” Tir said. “Will you give us the answers we seek?”
“Certainly, Lord Tenkai.” The old monk abruptly turned away from Tir and walked into the temple. The rune on his right hand throbbing, Tir followed after him, passing through the gates.
***
“We’re supposed to believe there’s a weapon that’s gonna bring down Neclord in here?” Muttered Viktor, looking around at the cave they were in, dimly illuminated by flickering torchlight. Tir and the others were now exploring the Cave of Runes in the mountain behind Qlon Temple.
When Fukien had opened the heavily-sealed cave entrance, he had said, “What you seek is here. Especially you, Lord Tir. There is much that you must accept within these walls. Please think of this as a trial you need to undergo as the Tenkai.”
Tir had expected Fukien to just bring out some dusty old tomes and tell him about the Soul Eater, so he had been a little taken aback when the monk led them to the mouth of the cave instead. But the moment he heard the word “trial”, he felt a shiver pass through him.
Whatever awaits us, I’m going to uncover the Soul Eater’s secrets. He held these thoughts to himself as they proceeded through the cave.
Cleo, at the front of the group, raised her torch. “What’s that?”
“What? What is it?” Viktor slipped past Cleo, running ahead. The path dead-ended at a pedestal. “Is this the weapon?!” Viktor’s voice echoed in the cave.
Tir and the others rushed to join Viktor and found an odd sight waiting there for them. A white pedestal made of stone. Above the pedestal floated a thin sword, the naked blade pointed up. The sword was not stuck in the stone, nor suspended by any means they could see—it simply floated there in midair.
“What the heck is this supposed to be?” Flik asked, surprised. As if in response, the sword shook. It felt to Tir like the sword had wanted to turn toward Flik and tell him to shut up. But, delighted to have found the weapon, Viktor strode straight toward the pedestal. “So this is what the monk was talking about?”
“Viktor, wait! Stay away from it!” Cleo shouted, on guard.
The sword shook once more, but Viktor couldn’t care less. “Come on, it’s totally fine!”
The moment Viktor reached out to grasp the hilt... a deep voice rumbled, echoing around the cave’s chambers. “Just who do you think you are?” It seemed to come from the sword. As they stared in shock, the voice spoke again. “I shall curse any who dare disturb my slumber!”
“What?!” grunted Viktor as a dazzling light shone from the sword’s hilt. They all looked at the carving on the hilt—it was a carving of a face. Its eyes blinked, as if sleepy, and then opened wide to glare at the four of them. A light shot out of its eyes, enveloping them Tir and the others, and they lost consciousness.
***
“Ugh...” Tir groaned, his mind a jumbled haze. Maybe due to that mysterious light the sword had emitted, his body still felt numb and he couldn't move. As his senses returned, Tir tried wiggling his fingers. Once he moved them, he noticed something unexpected. He tried moving them again. Yes, there it is.
“What’s this doing in a cave...?” He could feel grass growing in the ground under his fingers. We were in the Cave of Runes... where are we now?
He took a deep breath. The smell of dry grass and dirt filled his nostrils. He slowly opened his heavy eyelids and saw that, somehow, they all lay sprawled on the floor of a forest, sunlight filtering through the branches. They had entered the cave at the height of summer, but now the air felt unpleasantly chilly.
“Urgh...” He sat up, shaking his head experimentally. As the numbness faded away, he began to be able to discern their surroundings more clearly. Next to them lay a small wooden wayside shrine. Not fifty paces from them the forest opened up and they could see a small village.
“Ugh...” Groaning a little, Cleo sat up, too. “What is this place?”
Next, Viktor and Flik both regained consciousness, and looked around them curiously. “Where the heck are we...?” Flik muttered.
“Well, not in the Cave of Runes, that’s for sure,” Cleo replied, glaring at Viktor. “Looks like a certain careless somebody got us kicked out, hm?”
“H-hey, now. At least we’re alive, eh?” His expression sheepish, Viktor pointed at the village beyond the forest. “Look, there’s a village over there. Let’s just go ask ‘em where we are.”
He stood, brushing off the dirt that clung to his clothes. Everyone else sighed and got up, all looking like they would like to give Viktor a piece of their minds, but had decided not to bother. Tir begin to lead the party toward the village. But then he stopped suddenly. “Huh?!”
Cleo was right behind him and looked to see what had startled him. She stopped dead in her tracks, too. They stood there, dumbfounded. “Isn’t that...?”
A little ways away from the village, near the forest, was a large fir tree. A child stood in its shadow, staring right at Tir. He had bright chestnut-brown hair, light brown eyes, round cheeks, and an easy, friendly smile. Tir was sure he knew this boy.
“Heya!” the child called out. “Are you guys here to steal our treasure?”
Tir approached him. “Treasure? No, not us.”
“Oh, that’s good, then. Gramps looked real mad, so I was gettin’ kinda worried.” The boy grinned so big his eyes nearly shut.
Tir did want to ask about the treasure, but there was one thing he wanted to know more than that. He crouched down in front of the boy. “Now then, can you tell us your name?”
“Oh, I’m...”
“Ted! Come back here!”
Startled at the sudden shout, Tir looked up and around for the source. An old man stood at the entrance to the house closest to the forest, glaring at them.
“Oops! Gramps is calling me. Better run!”
“Ah, wait just a—”
Before he could stop him, the boy dashed off toward the old man. The elderly man pushed the boy called Ted into the house and, sparing one final glare at Tir and the others, slammed the door shut.
“Lord Tir, he just called that boy ‘Ted’...” Cleo said behind him.
“I know,” Tir answered, gazing at the door. “What in the world is going on here...?”
Tir’s head was spinning. If he’s the Ted that we know... When Ted lived with us in Gregminster, his body was still that of a young boy’s, as it had been for 300 years due to the power of the rune. But the Ted I just spoke to was a child. Which means...? Following that train of thought logically shocked Tir to his core. Which means this is Ted before he received the Soul Eater rune?! So we’ve travelled more than 300 years back in time?!
“Hey, what’s got you two so spooked?” Flik asked from behind them, jolting Tir back to the present.
“S-sorry. We were just surprised by that boy.”
“Yeah, that treasure he mentioned got me wonderin’, too!” Viktor chimed in, looking like he was having fun. “Let’s go ask at that house to find out where we are!”
“Yes, let’s.” agreed Cleo, clearly wanting to learn more about Ted. They quickened their pace and entered the village, a smattering of houses cozily lined up. The village was in a forest halfway up a mountain. Behind the village towered the tall mountain. To the front, the village overlooked a large, flat meadow, visible past the pine forest.
I guess this place feels so chilly because it’s up high, thought Tir, as he knocked on the door of the house the boy had gone into. “Sorry to bother you, but we just have a quick question.”
“What do you want?!” yelled the old man from inside the house, his tone about as inviting as a bed of thorns. They heard the sound of footsteps thumping on the wooden floor and then the old man yanked the door open a crack, glaring out at them. He had a head full of white hair and a bushy white beard. He was small in stature but sturdily built, clad in blue clothes under a fur vest. His expression remained stern. “You lot working for that witch? Then tell her this for me. What she’s looking for isn’t here, so kindly don’t go destroying our peaceful lives.”
“No, um...” Tir hastened to explain. “I think there’s been some kind of misunderstanding, honorable elder. We are simple travelers who just happened to come upon your village in the middle of our journey.”
“Really?” The old man eyed them in obvious distrust. As the elderly man paused to look them over, over his shoulder Tir noticed Ted inside the house. The boy grinned at him. That’s definitely the Ted I know.
“Well, I might buy your story. Any cronies of that witch would be radiating a bit more evil, I guess.”
His attention caught again by the man’s words, Tir looked back to him. “Evil, you say?”
The old man shook his head and answered quietly. “No, I can’t speak to you of it. If you have no connection to that woman, it is not something for your ears. Get out of here as fast as you can. Nothing good will come of lingering here.”
“Perhaps we could help you, honorable elder.” Cleo said, moving to stand beside Tir. “Would you tell us more about what is troubling you? Who is this ‘witch’ you mentioned?”
But the old man stubbornly refused. “I appreciate the thought, but I won’t speak of this to outsiders. Now get out. Out of my house, and out of this village.” He turned the door handle, about to shut it in their faces. And then...
“Come now,” rang out a woman’s voice, haughtily. “It isn’t nice to greet questions with silence, hmm? Or to call people “witches”, for that matter.”
Tir and Cleo both whipped around, aghast. “Windy?!”
Lady Windy stood in the town square along with her retinue. She was not wearing the fancy clothes she had on when Tir had seen her at his audience with the king. Instead, she wore a blue cape over a light lavender dress. She glared daggers at the old man.
Viktor’s gaze, however, was arrested not by Windy, but by the man who stood beside her. His hand went to his sword. “So this is where that bastard Neclord is,” he breathed.
Neclord’s face was a pale, unhealthy color. His black cape fluttered in the wind. But since they had not yet obtained a weapon that could defeat Neclord, Victor’s hands were tied. All four stood motionless, each wrapped in their own thoughts. The old man came out of his house and pushed past them. “What do you want with our village, Windy?” He said in a loud, strong voice that carried, looking directly at her.
“My dear mayor,” Windy responded, that mocking smile still on her lips. “Since you refuse to just hand the rune over to us, I have come all this way to meet with you personally. Now, you will give the Soul Eater rune to me.”
Her words made Tir remember what Ted had told him when he gave him the rune. “Windy almost snatched this rune away once before,” he had said, grimacing in pain.
Am I standing here watching that very moment now?
“I don’t know what that is!” The old man walked to stand in front of Windy. “I have no idea what you’re talking about! Get out of my village!”
“Hmph. There is no point in trying to hide it. The fact that you ran from us and started this village itself is proof that you have the rune.”
She raised her hand and snapped her fingers. First came a sound like the howling wind—
WHAM!
The earth itself rumbled and balls of fire began to rain down on the village. They stared in shock as the fireballs destroyed one house and then another, enveloped in crimson flames. In moments, the village was awash in a sea of flames, the villagers screaming as they fled their burning homes. Unwilling to stand by and watch as this tragedy unfolded, Tir finally shouted, “Help the villagers!”
“Yes, sir!”
Their team of four leapt into the fray, helping the villagers escape the flames. A number of corpses already littered the road; they focused on helping the survivors first. They put out those whose clothes had caught fire and led the panicked villagers to the relative safety of the forest.
Windy’s laugh rang out once again over the village wrapped in flames and chaos. “Ahahaha! While you were busy playing the fool, Mayor, it appears Yuber got tired of waiting. He is not someone you want to anger. Now hand the rune over to me at once—or we will burn the rest of your precious village to ashes!”
“Windy! If you want to see the power of this cursed rune so badly, I’ll show you!”
Tir turned in reflex at the steel resolution in the old man’s voice. The elderly man stood in front of Windy, his right hand in the air. His eyes were shut tight, and he spoke softly. “O, Cursed Rune Soul Eater! Show your power—vanquish my enemy!”
As Tir watched, darkness gushed out of the elder’s right hand. It was the same darkness that Ted had called upon to defeat the queen ant at Mt. Seifu.
The old man was trying to use the Soul Eater to defeat Windy, but she just went on laughing. “Ohoho! You show yourself at last!” And she, too, raised her right hand. A white light also poured forth from her hand, in the same way the blackness gushed from the old man’s. “I knew you had the soul eater! There was really no need to make us force your hand with all these threats!”
The minute the words were out of her mouth, the darkness swooped down on her. But just a second before the darkness reached them, a white light enveloped Windy and Neclord and they vanished. The darkness engulfed the empty air and disappeared into the earth.
＊＊＊
“Urgh... they got away.” The old man grumbled, clearly frustrated, and started to rush back to his house.
“Oh! Please wait, sir!”
The old man halted at Tir’s cry. When he turned to look at Tir, his gaze had softened. “Traveler, I have a favor to beg of you.” He looked at Tir sadly.
“Of course, we will do anything we can to help.”
“Well, my place is a mess, but please, come in.” He beckoned them in, and they slipped in through the door that had been left ajar. Since most of the villagers had been evacuated to the nearby forest, Cleo and the others followed Tir inside.
Tir looked around the house. He saw Ted, frightened by the uproar in the village, crouched in front of the blazing fireplace. Tir called his name softly and the boy stood and turned to him with a smile. “Heheh. I was kinda scared, but it’s okay. Boys gotta be strong, y’know!”
“That’s right, Ted. Boys have to be strong.” The old man said, having followed them in and shut the door behind him. He walked over to stand beside Ted, who was in front of the fire, bowing his head to Tir and the others in apology. “I am so sorry to have gotten you all wrapped up in this, travelers.”
“Don’t worry about it,” replied Flik. “But what in the world is with that woman, Windy? Why is she targeting your village like this?”
“Please don’t ask. I don’t want to involve you in this any further than you are already.” The old man said, his expression pained.
“We hear you, elder,” said Tir, taking a step toward him. “And we won’t press you for more information. What is it you want us to do?”
“It is a terribly selfish request on my part...” responded the old man, taking Ted by the arm as he spoke. “Please, I want you to take this child somewhere far away. Anywhere, as long as it is out of that woman’s reach...”
We traveled here from three hundred years in the future... whether or not there’s any way for us to return to our time, is his request something we can grant?
Tir thought for a time and at last answered. “Yes, of course. We will do as much as is within our power.”
“Thank you so much. All right, Ted, listen to me.” He told Ted to turn to face him and to raise his right hand, palm facing the old man. “Good. Now stay just like that.”
The old man also raised his right hand and pressed his palm against Ted’s. Tir thought he knew what the old man would do next because it was the same thing Ted had done to him.
Perhaps because everyone was there watching over them, the old man quietly closed his eyes. “O, Soul Eater, rune that governs life and death... Pass from me and take Ted as your new master...”
Darkness soundlessly gushed from the old man’s right arm. No sooner had the darkness wrapped around Ted than it seemed to soak into his little body, gathering at the back of his right hand. The darkness vanished, leaving a black brand on Ted’s skin—the mark of the Soul Eater was engraved on his hand.
“G-grandpa...” stuttered Ted, gazing at the Soul Eater. “What is this? It’s kinda scary...”
“It’s nothing to be afraid of, Ted. You’re a big boy, so don’t be scared.” He hugged Ted gently. “Please forgive me... Yours is a difficult fate you must bear. But this rune’s power is something that must never be used.”
They all looked on in silence as the old man wrapped Ted tight in a long hug in front of the quietly burning hearth. It seemed he intended to say farewell to his grandson here and now. To protect the rune from Windy, the old man would hand it over to little Ted. Tir’s head spun. I had no idea the soul eater had such a sorrowful history...
Windy’s voice called from outside. “Oh, Mayor! Where have you scurried off to? Come on out!”
His grandpa grasped Ted by the shoulders. Looking into his eyes, he said simply, “Be well, Ted,” and stood up. “Please look after Ted, travelers,” he said, taking down the axe that hung above the hearth.
Drawing his own conclusions from the old man’s actions, Tir quickly interjected, “What are you planning to do?”
“I will act as decoy. While I distract them, please—take Ted and run. As far, far away as you can...” Said the old man, his expression determined. His words moved Tir to tears. The old man had said exactly what Ted had said to him when they parted. Passing the rune on to a new bearer, as he had just done right in front of them, and then using himself as a decoy was also exactly what Ted had done.
Perhaps all who bear the soul eater share this destiny...
The thought made Tir’s chest tighten. But there was no time for tears.
A man’s hoarse, ominous voice rang out from the center of the town. “Are you coming out or not, you worm?! No? Then I’ll burn this town all the way to the ground! I am Yuber! Fear my might!”
The earth rumbled. Windy’s vassal Yuber once again began raining down fireballs. Grasping his axe tight in both hands, the old man said to Tir, “You all need to stay here. I’m sorry. Goodbye.” He rushed outside, deaf to their pleas for him to wait.
The rumbling grew more intense. Ted cried and shouted after his grandfather. They could do nothing except hold him back and wait inside the house. Soon the rumbling in the earth moved from the village toward the forest. The old man had run into the forest. Yuber was raining down fireballs into the trees with abandon. Faroff in the forest, the villagers screamed.
By the time little Ted’s tears had dried, the ground had also ceased its rumbling. They could no longer hear screams from the forest.
P54
静かに燃える暖炉の前で、老人はしばらくの間、テッドを抱きしめていた。ティルも皆も、黙ったまま二人を見つめていた。
They all looked on in silence as the old man wrapped Ted tight in a long hug in front of the quietly burning hearth.
テッドを逃がしてくれと言った以上、老人はテッドとこの場で決別するつもりなのだ。
It seemed he intended to say farewell to his grandson here and now.
ウィンディから守るため、小さなテッドにソウルイーターを引き継いで。
To protect the rune from Windy, the old man would hand it over to little Ted.
ソウルイーターに、こんなに悲しい過去があったなんてーーティルが心のなかで呟いた時。
Tir’s head spun. I had no idea the soul eater had such a sorrowful history…
「村長！！どこにいるんだい？！出ておいで！！」
“Mayor! Where have you scurried off to? Come on out!”
家の外からウィンディの声が聞こえた。
Windy’s voice called from outside.
老人はテッドの肩をつかんでその目を見つめると、「テッド、元気でな」と一言言って、立ち上がった。
His grandpa grasped Ted by the shoulders. Looking into his eyes, he said simply, “Be well, Ted,” and stood up.
「では旅のお方、テッドをお願いしましたぞ」
“Please look after Ted, travelers.”
そう言って老人は、暖炉の上に飾ってあった斧を取った。
He said, taking down the axe that hung above the hearth.
老人のそぶりを見て、慌ててティルが言う。
Drawing his own conclusions from the old man’s actions, Tir quickly interjected,
「しかし、あなたはどうなさるおつもりです？」
“What are you planning to do?”
「私が囮になる。その間に、テッドを連れて逃げてくだされ。できるだけ、遠く、遠くに……」
“I will act as decoy. While I distract them, please—take Ted and run. As far, far away as you can…”
決意の目を向けて、老人は言った。
Said the old man, his expression determined.
その言葉に、ティルの目頭が熱くなった。
His words moved Tir to tears.
老人の言葉は、テッドがティルとの別れ際に言った言葉とほとんど同じだった。
The old man had said exactly what Ted had said to him when they parted.
老人が今、ティルたちの目の前てしたこと、ソウルイーターを親しい人に引き継いだことも、そして自ら囮になろうとしていることもテッドがティルにしたことと同じだった。
And passing the rune on to a new bearer, as he had just done right in front of them, and then using himself as a decoy was also exactly what Ted had done.
ソウルイーターという紋章のために、皆同じ運命をーーティルは胸がしめつけられる思いだった。
Perhaps all who bear the Soul Eater share this destiny… The thought made Tir’s chest tighten.
p55
しかし涙を流している暇は、ティルにはなかった。
But there was no time for tears.
「出てこんのか！！虫けらが！！」
“Are you coming out or not, you worm?!”
村の中央に、野太く不気味な男の声が響く。
A man’s hoarse, ominous voice rang out from the center of the town.
「ならば我が紅蓮の炎の魔法で村を焼き尽くすまでよ！！このユーバーの力、思い知るがよい！！」
“If not, then I’ll burn this town all the way to the ground! I am Yuber! Fear my might!”
ドン、と地鳴りがする。
The earth rumbled.
ウィンディの従者のユーバーが、再び火の玉を降らせはじめ。
Windy’s vassal Yuber once again began raining down fireballs.
斧を両手でしっかりと握り、老人はティルに言う。
Grasping his axe tight in both hands, the old man said to Tir,
「あなた方はここにいなされ。では、ごめん」
“You all need to stay here. I’m sorry. Goodbye.”
老人はティルたちが止めるのも聞かず、外へ飛び出していった。
He rushed outside, deaf to their pleas for him to wait.
直後、地鳴りが激しくなった。
The rumbling grew more intense.
四人は泣き叫ぶテッドを押さえ、家のなかでただじっとしているしかなかった。
Ted cried and shouted after his grandfather. They could do nothing except hold him back and wait inside the house.
やがて地鳴りは村から離れ、森へと移動した。
Soon the rumbling in the earth moved from the village toward the forest.
老人が逃げ込んだ森に、ユーバーがあたりかまわず火球を飛ばしているのだ。
The old man had run into the forest. Yuber was raining down fireballs into the trees with abandon.
魔法の威力が増したのか、地鳴りが厳しく響き渡る。遠くの森にも、村人たちの悲鳴があがるーー。
Far-off in the forest, the villagers screamed.
小さなテッドの涙が涸れた頃、地鳴りがやんだ。
By the time little Ted’s tears had dried, the ground had also ceased its rumbling.
その時にはすでに、森のなかの悲鳴も聞こえなくなっていた。
They could no longer hear screams from the forest.
P52
そして老人は暖炉の前にいるテッドの横まで歩んで行くと、ティルたちに身体を向けて小さく頭を下げた。
He walked over to stand beside Ted, who was in front of the fire, bowing his head to Tir and the others in apology.
「旅のお方よ。こんなことに巻き込んてしまい、本当にすまないと思っている」
“I am so sorry to have gotten you all wrapped up in this, travelers.”
「いや、いいですけど」そう言ったのはフリックだ。
“Don’t worry about it,” replied Flik.
「それよりも、あの女はいったいなんですか？なんでこの村を？」
“But what in the world is with that woman, Windy? Why is she targeting your village like this?”
「それについては聞かないてくだされ。これ以上、あなた方を巻き込みたくないのてな」
“Please don’t ask. I don’t want to involve you in this any further than you are already.”
辛そうに目を伏せて、老人が言った。
The old man said, his expression pained.
「では、ご老人」一歩歩み出て、ティルが言う。
「これ以上私たちは、追及しないと約束します。それで、あなたの頼みというのは？」
“We hear you, elder,” said Tir, taking a step toward him. “And we won’t press you for more information. What is it you want us to do?”
「まことに勝手な頼みなのだが……」言いながら、老人は横に立ったテッドの腕を握った。
“It is a terribly selfish request on my part…” responded the old man, taking Ted by the arm as he spoke.
「この子を、どこでもいい、遠くに連れていって欲しいのだ。あの女の手の届かない、遠いところへ……」
“Please, I want you to take this child somewhere far away. Anywhere, as long as it is out of that woman’s reach…”
今三百年もの過去に来ている自分たち。元の世界に戻る術もないというのに、この老人の頼みを聞くことがてきるのだろうかーー？
We traveled here from three hundred years in the future… whether or not there’s any way for us to return to our time, is his request something we can grant?
ティルはしばらく考えていたが、やがて言った。「わかりました。できる限りのことはいたします」
Tir thought for a time and at last answered. “Yes, of course. We will do as much as is within our power.”
「ありがたい、ではテッド」
“Thank you so much. Okay, Ted.”
老人は暖炉の前でテッドの身体を自分に向けると、テッドに右手を上げさせ、掌を自分の方に向けるように言った。
He told Ted to turn to face him and to raise his right hand, palm facing the old man.
P53
「いいかいテッド、じっとしてるんだよ」
“Good. Now stay just like that.”
老人も自分の右手をかざし、テッドの掌に合わせた。
The old man also raised his right hand and pressed his palm against Ted’s.
ティルは老人が何をしようとしているのか知っていた。
Tir thought he knew what the old man was doing
テッドがティルにしたのと同じことを、彼はテッドにしようとしているのだ。
because it was the same thing Ted had done to him.
皆が見守るなか、老人が静かに瞼を閉ざす。
Perhaps because everyone was there watching over them, the old man quietly closed his eyes.
「汝、ソウルイーター、生と死を司る紋章よ……。我の下を離れ、この者テッドを汝の新しき主とせよ……」
“O, Soul Eater, rune that governs life and death… Pass from me and take Ted as your new master…”
老人の右腕から、音もなく闇がほとばしった。
Darkness soundlessly gushed from the old man’s right arm.
闇はテッドを包んだかと思うと、その小さな身体になかに染み込んでゆき、次第に右手の甲に集まっていった。
No sooner had the darkness wrapped around Ted than it seemed to soak into his little body, gathering at the back of his right hand.
そして全ての闇が消え去った時、テッドの右手には黒い刻印が、ソウルイーターが刻まれていた。
The darkness vanished, leaving a black brand on Ted’s skin—the mark of the Soul Eater was engraved on his hand.
「お、おじいちゃん… 」ソウルイーターを見つめて、テッドが言う。「これは何？なんだか、僕、怖いよ……」
“G-grandpa…” stuttered Ted, looking at the Soul Eater. “What is this? It’s kinda scary…”
「怖いことなんかないよ、テッド。テッドは男の子だ、だから怖いことなんてないんだよ」
“It’s nothing to be afraid of, Ted. You’re a boy, so don’t be scared.”
そっとテッドの身体を抱きしめ、老人は続ける。
He hugged Ted gently.
「許してくれ……。お前に辛い運命を背負わせてしまうことになる。でも、この紋章の力は、使われてはいけないものなんだよ……」
“Please forgive me… Yours is a difficult fate you must bear. But this rune’s power is something that must never be used.”
p50
「おのれウィンディ！！この呪われた紋章の力が見たくば、見せてやろう！！」
“Windy! If you want to see the power of this cursed rune so badly, I’ll show you!”
意を決したような老人の声に、ティルは思わず振り返った。
Tir turned in reflex at the old man’s resolute voice.
すると老人はウィンディの前に立ち、右手をかざしていた。
He stood in front of Windy, his right hand in the air.
老人は固く目を閉じて静かに口を開く。
His eyes were shut tight, and he spoke softly.
「呪われし紋章ソウルイーターよ、その力を示し、我が敵を討ち倒せ！！」 （ー＞打ち倒せ？）
“O, Cursed Rune Soul Eater! Show your power—vanquish my enemy!”
ティルが見ているその前で、老人の右手から闇がほとばしった。
As Tir watched, darkness gushed out of the elder’s right hand.
その闇は、清風山の蟻の巣でテッドが女王蟻を倒したものと同じだった。
It was the same darkness that Ted had called upon to defeat the queen ant at Mt. Seifu.
老人はソウルイーターの力でウィンディを倒そうとしているのだ。
The old man was trying to use the soul eater to defeat Windy
しかしウィンディは、笑いを絶やすことはなかった。
but she just went on laughing.
「おっほっほ！！ついに尻尾を出したわね！！」
“Ohoho! You show yourself at last!”
そしてウィンディも右手をかざす。
And she, too, raised her right hand.
白い光が、同じく彼女の右腕からほとばしる。
A white light also poured forth from her hand, in the same way the blackness gushed from the old man’s.
「やっぱりソウルイーターはあんたが持っていたんだね！！こんな脅しに引っかかるあんたも大したことはないね！！」
“I knew you had the soul eater! There was really no need to make us force your hand with all these threats!”
ウィンディが言い終えると同時に、闇が彼女に襲いかかった。
The minute the words were out of her mouth, the darkness swooped down on her.
しかしい一瞬早く白い光がウィンディとネクロードを包んだかと思うと、二人の姿は消えた。
But just a moment before the darkness reached them, a white light enveloped Windy and Neclord and they vanished.
闇は虚しく空を包み、地面のなかへと消えていった。
The darkness engulfed the empty air and disappeared into the earth.
＊＊＊
「くっ、逃がしたか……」
“Urgh… they got away.”
P51
老人は悔しそうに呟くと、足早に家のなかに駆け込もうとした。
The old man grumbled, clearly frustrated, and started to rush back to his house.
「あ、待ってください！！」
“Oh! Please wait, sir!”
ティルの声に、老人が足を止めた。
The old man halted at Tir’s cry.
振り返った老人は、もうティルを険しい目で見てはいなかった。
When he turned to look at Tir, his gaze had softened.
「旅のお方よ、あなた方にひとつお願いしたいことがある……」
“Traveler, I have a favor to beg of you.”
老人は寂しそうな目でティルを見つめた。
He looked at Tir sadly.
「はい、私たちにできることでしたら……」
“Of course, we will do anything we can to help.”
「では、むさ苦しいところだが、こちらへ」
“Well, my place is a mess, but please, come in.”
開いたままの扉の前から身体をずらして、老人はティルたちに家に入るよう促した。
He beckoned them in, and they slipped in through the door that had been left ajar.
村人たちをあらかた森に逃がした後だったので、クレオたち三人もティルについて家に入った。
Since most of the villagers had been evacuated to the nearby forest, Cleo and the others followed Tir inside.
ティルが家のなかを見回すと、赤々と燃える暖炉の前に、村の騒ぎに怯えたテッドが小さくなってうずくまっていた。
Tir looked around the house. He saw Ted, frightened by the uproar in the village, crouched in front of the blazing fireplace.
「テッド君……」
“Ted…”
小声で呼びかけたティルに、テッドは笑みを向け立ち上がる。
Tir called to him softly and the boy stood and turned to him with a smile.
「へヘへ。ちょっと怖かったけど、大丈夫だよ。男の子は強くなくっちゃね」
“Heheh. I was kinda scared, but it’s okay. Boys gotta be strong, y’know!”
「そうだ、テッド。男の子は、強くなくっちゃいけない」
“That’s right, Ted. Boys have to be strong.”
皆の後から家に入り、扉を閉めて老人が言った。
The old man said, having followed them in and shut the door behind him.
p48
しかしビクトールは、ウィンディよりも彼女に従う男のほうが気になるようだった。
Viktor’s gaze, however, was arrested not by Windy, but by the man who stood beside her.
剣の柄に手を掛けて、彼は呟く。「ネクロード、こんなところに現れやがったか……」
His hand went to his sword. “So this is where that bastard Neclord is,” he breathed.
黒いマントを風になびかせた顔色の悪いその男こそ、ネクロードだった。
Neclord’s face was a pale, unhealthy color. His black cape fluttered in the wind.
だが彼を倒す武器をまだ手に入れてない今、ビクトールも手出しできなかった。
But since they had not yet obtained a weapon that could defeat Neclord, Victor’s hands were tied.
様々な思いで立ちつくす四人を押しのけ、老人が家から出る。
All four stood motionless, each wrapped in their own thoughts. The old man came out of his house and pushed past them.
「ウィンディ、わしらの村に何用だ？」
“What do you want with our village, Windy?”
老人はじっとウィンディを見据え、語気を強めて言った。
He said in a loud, strong voice that carried, looking directly at her.
だがウィンディは、あざけるような笑みを絶やさずに言い返す。「村長、あんたが素直に紋章を渡さないから、わざわざ出向いてあげたのさ。さあ、お前が持っているソウルイーターを私に渡すんだよ」
“My dear mayor,” Windy responded, that mocking smile still on her lips. “Since you refuse to just hand the rune over to us, I have come all this way to meet with you personally. Now, you will give the Soul Eater rune to me.”
ウィンディの言葉に、ティルはソウルイーターを受け取った時のテッドの言葉を思い出した。
Her words made Tir remember what Ted had told him when he gave him the rune.
苦しげに顔を歪めて、彼は言った。ウィンディは、前にもこの紋章を奪おうとしたことがある、と。
Windy almost snatched this rune away once before, he had said, grimacing in pain.
すると自分は今、その瞬間に立ち会っているのかー。
Am I standing here watching that very moment now?
「そんなものは知らん！！」老人がウィンディの前に歩み出る。
“I don’t know what that is!” The old man walked to stand in front of Windy.
「何と言われようと知らんものは知らんのだ！さあ、とっとと帰ってくれ！！」
“I have no idea what you’re talking about! Get out of my village!”
「ふん、隠したって無駄さ。あんたが私たちから逃れてこんな村を作ったってこと自体、紋章を持っている証拠じゃないかね」
“Hmph. There is no point in trying to hide it. The fact that you ran from us and started this village itself is proof that you have the rune.”
P49
ウィンディは言い終えるなり、腕を上げて指をぱちんと鳴らした。
She raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
どこからか、風の鳴る音が響いたかと思うとーー。
First came a sound like the howling wind—
ドン！！
WHAM!
もの凄い地鳴りと共に、村に火の玉が降り注いだ。
The earth itself rumbled and balls of fire began to rain down on the village.
ティるたちが驚く間にも火の玉は一軒、二軒と村の家を潰し、紅蓮の炎を巻き上げた。
They stared in shock as the fireballs destroyed one house and then another, enveloped in crimson flames.
あっという間にに村は火の海になり、家々から悲叩をあげながら村人が飛び出してきた。
In moments, the village was awash in a sea of flames. The villagers screamed as they fled their burning homes.
目の前の惨劇に耐えかねて、ついにティルが叫ぶ。「みんな！！」
Unwilling to stand by and watch as this tragedy unfolded, Tir finally shouted, “Help the villagers!”
「わかった！！」
“Yes, sir!”
四人は村を走り回り、炎に逃げまどう人たちの救出にあたった。
All four leapt into the fray, helping the villagers escape the flames.
すでに遺体がいくつか道筋に転がっていたが、今は生存者を救い出すほうが先だった。
A number of corpses already littered the road; they focused on helping the survivors first.
衣服に移った炎を消し、混乱に陥った人々を安全な森へと誘導していった。
They put out those whose clothes had caught fire and led the panicked villagers to the relative safety of the forest.
炎と混乱に包まれる村に、再びウィンディの笑い声が響く。
Windy’s laugh rang out once again over the village wrapped in flames and chaos.
「おっはっはっほ！村長、あんたがわからず屋を言ってる間に、待たせていたユーバーが退屈したらしいねえ。私はともかく、彼を怒らせると大変なことになるよ。さあ、早く紋章をお渡し。さもないとこの村を全部焼き払うことになるよ！！」
“Ahahaha! While you were busy playing the fool, mayor, it appears Yuber got tired of waiting. He is not someone you want to anger. Hand the rune over to me at once. Otherwise we will burn your precious village till there is nothing left but ashes!”
P46
ティルが言った瞬間、棘を含んだ老人の声が家のなかから聞こえてきた。「なんじゃ！！」
“What do you want?!” yelled the old man from inside the house, his tone as inviting as a bed of thorns.
ばたばたと木の床を踏む音が聞こえたかと思うと、乱暴に扉を開け老人が顔を覗かせた。
They heard the sound of footsteps thumping on the wooden floor and then the old man yanked the door open a crack, glaring out at them.
豊かな白髪に豊かな白髭、小柄だがしっかりとした体艦を青い着衣と毛皮のベストで包んだその老人は、相変わらず険しい表情を顔に浮かべていた。
He had a head full of white hair and a bushy white beard. He was small in stature but sturdily built, clad in blue clothes under a fur vest. His expression remained stern.
「お前があの女からの使者か？ならばヤツに言っといてくれ。ここにはお前の探しているものなどない、だからわしらの平穏な生活を壊さんでくれ、とな」
“You lot working for that witch? Then tell her this for me. What she’s looking for isn’t here, so kindly don’t go destroying our peaceful lives.”
「いえ、ご老人……」慌ててティルが口を開く。「それは誤解です。私たちは旅の途中でたまたまこの村を通りがかっただけで……」
“No, um…” Tir hastened to explain. “I think there’s been some kind of misunderstanding, honorable elder. We are simple travelers who just happened to come upon your village in the middle of our journey.”
「本当か？」疑わしげに、老人がティルたちを見回す。
“Really?” The old man eyed them in obvious distrust.
ティルは老人がそうしている間に、家の奥からこちらに笑顔を向けているテッドを見ていた。
As the old man paused to look them over, Tir noticed Ted inside the house. The boy grinned at him.
確かにあれはテッドだー—°
That’s definitely the Ted I know.
「ふむ、そうかもしれん。あの女の使者なら、もっと悪しき気を発しているはずじゃからな」
“Well, I might buy your story. Any cronies of that witch would be radiating a bit more evil, I guess.”
老人の言葉が気になって、ティルが視線を戻す。「悪しき気、とは？」
His attention caught again by the man’s words, Tir looked back to him. “Evil, you say?”
ティルの問いに老人は首を左右に振り、静かに答える。
The old man shook his head and answered quietly.
P47
[いや、それについて語ることはできん。お前さんたちがあの女と関係がないのなら、話すことはない。早々に立ち去るんじゃな。この村におってもいいことなどないぞ」
“No, I can’t speak to you of it. If you have no connection to that woman, it is not something for your ears. Get out of here as fast as you can. Nothing good will come of lingering here.”
「しかしご老人」クレオがティルの横に歩み出る。「何かお困りなのではないですか？よろしかったら、お話しいただけないてしょうか。あなたが先ほどからおっしゃる『あの女』とは、いったい何者ですか？」
“But perhaps we could help you, honorable elder.” Cleo said, moving to stand beside Tir. “Would you tell us more about what is troubling you? Who is this “witch” you mentioned?”
だが、あくまで老人は強固な態度を崩さない。
But the old man stubbornly refused to change.
「お気持ちはありがたいが、他所者に話すことはない。さあ、出ていってくれ。わしの家からも、この村からもな」
“I appreciate the thought, but I won’t speak of this to outsiders. Now get out. Out of my house, and out of this village.”
そして老人は、ドアノブを握り扉を閉めようとした。
He turned the door handle, about to shut it in their faces.
その時。
And then…
「おやおや、黙って聞いていれば酷いことを言うねえ。人のことを『あの女』呼ばわりとはねぇ」ティルたちの背後に、高圧的な女性の声がした。
“Come now,” rang out a woman’s voice, haughtily. “It isn’t nice to greet questions with silence, hmm? Or to call people “witches”, for that matter.”
ティルもクレオも、振り返って愕然とした。
Tir and Cleo both whipped around, aghast.
「ウィンディ？！」
“Windy?!”
村の中央の広場に、ウィンディが一人の従者を伴い立っていた。
Lady Windy stood in the town square along with her retinue.
ティルが謁見の時に見たような豪奢な衣服こそ着ていないものの、薄紫のドレスに青のマントを羽織り、鋭い視線を老人に向けている。
She was not wearing the fancy clothes she had on when Tir had seen her at his audience with the king. Instead, she wore a blue cape over a light lavender dress. She shot a sharp look at the old man.
p42
「ま、まあそう言うなよ。生きてたんだからいいじゃねえか」
“H-hey, now. At least we’re alive, eh?”
慌ててビクトールは、森の外の村を指さした。
Flustered, Viktor pointed at the village beyond the forest.
「はら、あそこに村がある。あそこで聞きやあ、ここがどこだかすぐわかるぜ」
“Look, there’s a village over there. Let’s just go ask ‘em where we are.”
身体についた土を払って、ビクトールが立ち上がる。
He stood, brushing the dirt from his clothes.
皆もため息をつきながら立ち上がったーーとんだことになってしまった、とても言いたげに。
Everyone else sighed and got up, all looking as though they would have liked to give Viktor a piece of their minds, but had decided not to bother.
しかしティルを先頭にして、皆が村に向かって歩きだした時。
Tir begin to lead the party toward the village.
「え…？！」突然ティルが足を止めた。
But then he stopped suddenly. “Huh?!”
ティルのすぐ後ろを歩いていたクレオも、前方に視線を移したとたんに立ち止まった。
Cleo was right behind him, and looked to see what had startled him. She stopped dead in her tracks, too.
「あれは……」
“Isn’t that…?”
二人はそのまま、呆然と前を見つめていた。
They stood there, dumbfounded.
村から少し森に踏み込んだ辺りに、太めの針葉樹が立っている。
A large fir tree stood a little ways away from the village, near the forest.
その木の影から覗くようにして、一人の子供がティルをじっと見つめていた。
A child peeked out from the shadows of the tree, staring right at Tir.
鮮やかな栗毛に茶色の瞳、柔らかな頬に人なつっこい笑顔を浮かべた男の子。
He had bright chestnut-brown hair, light brown eyes, round cheeks, and an easy, friendly smile.
ティルはその子を、見たことがあるような気がした。
Tir was sure he knew him.
「ねえねえ、おにいちゃんたち？」にこにこと笑いながら、男の子が言う。「おにいちゃんたちが宝物を取りに来た人なの？」
“Heya!” the little boy called out. “Are you guys here to steal our treasure?”
男の子に歩み寄りながら、ティルが答える。
Tir approached him.
P43
[image!]
P44
「宝物？ううん、違うよ」
“Treasure? No, not us.”
「そっかあ、よかった。おじいちゃんが怖い顔してるから、僕、ちょっと心配だったんだよ」
“Oh, that’s good. Gramps looked real mad, so I was gettin’ kinda worried.”
男の子が目を細めて微笑んだ。
The boy grinned so big his eyes nearly shut.
ティルは彼の言う宝物も気になったが、それよりも気になることがあった。
Tir did want to ask about the treasure, but there was one thing he wanted to know more than that.
男の子の前にしゃがんで、さらにティルは言う。
He crouched down in front of the boy.
「ねえ君、名前はなんて言うんだい？」
“Hey, what did you say your name was?”
「うん、僕はね……」
“Oh, I’m…”
「テッド！！こっちに来なさい！！」
“Ted! Come back here!”
突然響いた声に、ティルはどきりとして顔を上げた。
Startled at the sudden shout, Tir looked up and around for the source.
森に一番近い家の玄関に立った一人の老人が、怒ったような目つきでこちらを呪んでいた。
An old man stood at the entrance to the house closest to the forest, glaring at them.
「じやあ、おじいちゃんが呼んでるから」
“Oops! Gramps is calling me. Better run!”
「あ、ちょっと……」
“Ah, wait just a—”
ティルが止める間もなく、男の子は老人の方へ駆けだした。
Before he could stop him, the boy dashed off toward the old man.
老人はテッドと呼んだ男の子を家のなかに押し込むと、ティルたちをじろりと眠んて扉を閉ざしてしまった。
The elderly man pushed the boy called Ted into the house and, sparing one final glare at Tir and the others, slammed the door shut.
「ティル様。今の男の子、テッドと……」
“Lord Tir, he just called that boy “Ted”…”
背後で言ったクレオに、ティルは閉ざされた扉を見つめたまま答える。
Cleo said behind him.
「うん。これはいったい、どういうことなんだろう？」
“I know,” Tir answered, gazing at the door. “What in the world is going on here…?”
もしあの子が、僕の知っているテッドならーー ティルが思考を巡らす。
Tir’s head was spinning. If he’s the Ted that we know…
p45
僕とグレッグミンスターで暮らしていたテッドは、紋章の力で三百年間少年の姿のままだったはず。
When Ted lived with us in Gregminster, his body was still that of a young boy’s, as it had been for 300 years due to the power of the rune.
しかし、今僕らの前に現れたテッドは子供だった。
But the Ted I just spoke to was a child.
ということは……？そこまで考えて、ティルは愕然とした。
Which means…? Following that train of thought logically shocked Tir to his core.
あの子はソウルイーターを宿す前のテッド？！
This is Ted before he received the Soul Eater rune?!
すると僕らは三百年もの時を遡ってしまったということかー？！
And we’ve travelled more than 300 years back in time?!
「おいおい、二人とも、何を黙り込んでるんだよ？」
“Hey, what’s spooked you two?”
背後に響いたフリックの呆れ声に、ティルが我に返る。
Flik asked from behind them, jolting Tir back to the present.
「こ、ごめん。ちょっとあの子のことが気になって……」
“S-sorry. We were just surprised by that boy.”
「うん、ガキはともかく、お宝ってのは俺も気になったな」楽しそうにビクトールが言う。
“Yeah, that treasure he mentioned got me wonderin’, too!” Viktor chimed in, looking like he was having fun.
「とりあえずどうだ、ここがどこか聞かなきゃならんわけだし、今の家を訪ねてみるってのは？」
“Let’s go ask at that house to find out where we are!”
「そうですね、そうしましょう」やはりテッドのことが気になるのか、クレオも言った。
“Yes, let’s.” agreed Cleo, obviously wanting to know more about Ted.
ティルたちは足を速め、森からこぢんまりとした家が建ち並ぶ村へと出た。
They quickened their pace and entered the village, a smattering of houses cozily lined up.
村は山の中腹の森にあった。
The village was in a forest halfway up a mountain.
背後を振り返れば高い山がそびえ、正面の針葉樹森の向こうには広大な平原を見下ろすことがてきた。
Behind the village towered the tall mountain. To the front, the village overlooked a large, flat meadow, visible past the pine forest.
先ほど感じた肌寒さは、村が高い場所にあるからなのかもしれないーー
I guess this place feels so chilly because it’s up high.
そんなことを考えながら、ティルは老人とテッドという名の少年が入った家の扉を叩いた。
Thought Tir, as he knocked on the door the the house the boy had gone into.
「あのう、少々お尋ねします」
“Sorry to bother you, but we just have a quick question.”
ビクトールが剣の柄に手を伸ばそうとした時。
The moment Viktor reached out to grasp the hilt…
「誰だ、貴様は……」重々しい声が、洞窟に響いた。
“Just who do you think you are?” rumbled a deep voice that echoed around the cave.
その声は、剣のある位置から聞こえてきた。
It seemed to come from the sword.
ティルたちが驚いていると、またも声が響く。
As they stared in shock, the voice spoke again.
「我が眠りを覚ます者よ、その呪いを受けるがよい……」
“I shall curse any who dare disturb my slumber!”
「何？！」ビクトールが呟くと、剣の柄から眩い光が散った。
“What?!” grunted Viktor as a dazzling light shone from the sword’s hilt.
ティルも皆も、その時剣の柄に人の顔の彫刻を見た。
They all looked at the carving on the hilt—it was a carving of a face.
その顔は眠たそうに瞬いたかと思うと、次にはカッと目を見開き四人を睨みつけた。
The eyes of the carved face blinked, as if sleepy, and then shot open to glare at the four of them.
そしてその目が発する光に包まれた瞬間、ティルたちは気を失ってしまった。
A light shot out of its eyes, enveloping them Tir and the others, and they lost consciousness.
***
「く……」朦朧とした意忠のなかで、ティルが苦しげに声を漏らした。
“Ugh…” Tir groaned, his mind a jumbled haze.
剣が発した怪光線のせいか、未だに身体が痺れて動かない。
Maybe due to that mysterious light the sword had shot out, his body still felt numb and he couldn't move.
感覚が戻りつつある指先をなんとか動かしてみると、ティルはそこに、意外なものがあることに気づいた。
As his senses returned, Tir tried wiggling his fingers. Once he moved them, he noticed something unexpected.
もう一度、指先を動かしてみる。
He tried moving them again.
確かにそれは、そこにあった。
Yes, there it was.
P41
「どうして、こんなところに…」
“What’s that doing in a cave…?”
ティルの指先に配れたのは、地面から生えた草だった。
He could feel grass growing in the ground under his fingers.
僕らは紋章の洞窟にいたはずなのに、なぜー。
We were in the Cave of Runes… where are we now?
ティルが大きく息を吸い込む。
He took a deep breath.
枯れ草の匂いと、土の匂いが彼の鼻孔を満たす。
The smell of dry grass and dirt filled his nostrils.
重い瞼をゆっくりと開けたティルは、自分たちがいつの間にか木漏れ日の差し込む森に倒れていることに気づいた。
He slowly opened his heavy eyelids and saw that, somehow, they all lay sprawled on the floor of a forest, sunlight filtering through the branches.
ティルたちが洞窟に入った時は夏だったのに、なぜか空気も肌寒い。
They had entered the cave at the height of summer, but now the air felt unpleasantly chilly.
「う……ん……」
“Urgh…”
身体を起こしながら、頭を振ってみる。
He sat up, shaking his head experimentally.
痺れも薄れ、周囲に何があるのかはっきりと見られるようになっていた。
As the numbness faded away, he began to be able to discern their surroundings more clearly.
ティルたちの近くには木造の小さな祠があり、その正面から五十歩ほど先は森が開けていて小さな村が見えた。
Next to them lay a small wooden wayside shrine. Not fifty paces from them the forest opened up and they could see a small village.
「う……、ここは……」小さく呻いて、クレオが身体を起こした。
“Urgh…” Groaning a little, Cleo sat up. “What is this place?”
続いてビクトール、フリックも意識を取り戻し、不思議そうな表情で周囲を見回した。
Next, Viktor and Flik both regained consciousness, and looked around them, dumbfounded.
「ここは、いったい……」フリックが呟く。
“Where the heck are we…?” Flik muttered.
「さあね、紋章の洞窟でないことだけは確かだな」ビクトールを呪んで、クレオが言う。
“Well, it sure isn’t the Cave of Runes,” Cleo replied, glaring at Viktor.
「どうやら迂闊な誰かさんのせいで、洞窟から放り出されちまったみたいだね」
Looks like a certain careless somebody got us kicked out of the cave, hm?”
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P38
「では、フッケン殿」ティルが言う。「教えていただけますか？私が求めている、その答えを……」
“Then, by all means, Lord Fukien…” Tir said. “Will you give us the answers we seek?”
「承知いたしました、星主殿」
“Certainly, Lord Tenkai.”
フッケンはくるりとティルに背を向けて、寺院へと入っていった。
The old monk abruptly turned away from Tir and walked into the temple.
ティルは右手に宿る紋章が疼くのを感じながら、その後について門をくぐった。
The rune on his right hand throbbing, Tir followed after him, passing through the gates.
「本当にこんなところに、ネクロードを倒す武器があるのかねえ……」
“We’re supposed to believe there’s a weapon that’s gonna bring down Neclord in here?”
薄暗い松明の灯りに照らされた洞窟の内部を見回して、ビクトールが呟いた。
Muttered Viktor, looking around at the cave they were in, dimly illuminated by flickering torchlight.
ティルたちは今、クロン寺院の裏手の山にある「紋章の洞窟」の内部を進んでいた。
Tir and the others were now exploring the “Cave of Runes” in the mountain behind Qlon Temple.
厳重に封印された洞窟の扉を開く時、フッケンは言った。
When Fukien had opened the heavily-sealed cave entrance, he had said,
「あなたがたの求めるものは、ここにあります。
“What you seek is here.
特にティル殿、あなたはこの奥に待つ多くのものを受け容れなければなりません。
Especially you, Lord Tir. There is much that you must accept within these walls.
それが星主としての、あなたの試練だとお考えください」
Please think of this as a trial you must undergo as the tenkai.”
ティルはソウルイーターについて、フッケンが古めかしい書物か何かを持ち出して語ってくれるものだとばかり思っていたので、洞窟の前に案内された時は少々驚いた。
Tir had expected Fukien to just bring out some dusty old tomes and tell him about the soul eater, so he had been a little taken aback when the monk led them to the mouth of the cave instead.
しかし試練という言葉を聞いたとたんに、彼の身体はぴりっと震えた。
But the moment he heard the word “trial”, he felt a shiver pass through him.
何があっても、ソウルイーターの秘密をー。
Whatever awaits us, I’m going to uncover the Soul Eater’s secrets.
そんな思いを抱いてしばらく進んだ頃。
He held these thoughts to himself as they proceeded through the cave.
P39
「あれは……？」松明をかざして先頭を進んでいたクレオが声をあげた。
Cleo, at the front of the group, raised her torch. “What’s that?”
「なんだなんだ？」クレオの横をすり抜け、ビクトールが足早に先へ進む。
“What? What is it?” Viktor slipped past Cleo, running ahead.
洞窟の行き止まりには台座が据えられていた。
The path stopped ahead. The dead-end held a pedestal.
「これ、か？！」洞窟にビクトールの声が響く。
“Is this it?!” Viktor’s voice echoed in the cave.
ティルたちが駆けつけると、そこで不思議な光景が皆を待ち受けていた。
Tir and the others rushed to join Viktor and found an odd sight waiting there for them.
白い石造りの台座。
A white pedestal made of stone.
その上で切っ先を上に向け、細い抜き身の剣が垂直に浮かんでいる。
Above the pedestal floated a thin sword, the naked blade pointed up.
剣は石に刺さっているのでもなく、何かに吊るされているわけでもなく、中空に浮いているのだ。
The sword was not stuck in the stone, nor suspended by any means they could see—it simply floated there in midair.
「こりや、どういうことだ？」フリックが驚いて言った瞬間、剣が宙でゆらりと揺れた。
“What the heck is this supposed to be?” Flik asked, surprised. As if in response, the sword shook.
ティルには、それがフリックに「うるさい」とても言いたげに身をよじったように見えた。
It felt to Tir like the sword had wanted to turn toward Flik and tell him to shut up.
しかし武器を見つけた喜びからか、ビクトールはすたすたと台座に歩み寄る。
But, delighted to have found the weapon, Viktor strode straight toward the pedestal.
「あの坊さんが言ってたのは、この剣のことか？」
“So this is what the monk was talking about?”
「ビクトール、無闇に近寄るな！」怪しい気配を感じて、クレオが叫んだ。
“Viktor, wait! Stay away from it!” Cleo shouted, on guard.
P36
「星主？宿星？いったいなんのことだ？ それに坊さん、あんたティルのことを知っているのか？」
“Tenkai? Stars of destiny? What the heck are those? And you know Tir, monk?”
「もちろんですとも。ティル殿は我ら天地の宿星を導くお方なのですから」
“Of course I do. After all, Lord Tir is the one who leads us, the heavenly stars of destiny.”
馬を降りた皆の顔をぐるっと見回して、フッケンは言う。
Fukien turned, peering at each of their faces.
「ビクトール、あなたは天孤星の下。クレオ、あなたは天満星の下。そしていつぞやの悪戯坊主フリックは、天暗星の下、皆ティル殿の下に集まり戦う宿命にあるのです」
“Viktor, you are under the tenko star. Cleo, yours is the tenman star. And Flik, who was such an obnoxious little brat not so long ago, the tenan star. It is your destiny to band together under Lord Tir and fight.”
フッケンの言葉を、ティルは不思議な思いで聞いていた。
Tir listened to the monk’s words in wonder.
宿星を背負う一〇七人の仲間を集めなければならないことは知っていたが、皆がどんな宿星を背負っているかは全く知らなかったからだ。
He had known that he had to gather one hundred and seven allies, but he had not known which star each of them bore.
しかしフッケンの宿星の話は、ティル以外の者には興味がないようだった。
But Tir wasn’t the only one interested in what Fukien had to say.
ビクトールは訝しげにフッケンを見つめ、クレオはわかったようなわからないような顔をしていた。
Viktor stared at Fukien in evident suspicion, while Cleo looked like she didn’t know whether or not to believe the elderly man.
そしてフリックはというとーー。「チッ、覚えてやがったか……」と小さく舌打ちをした。
Flik clicked his tongue. “So he does remember me…”
「フッケン殿、フリックを覚えておいでなのですか？」クレオが尋ねると、フッケンはにやと笑って答える。
“Lord Fukien, you remember Flik?” asked Cleo, and the old monk grinned.
「昔この悪戯坊主を叱ったことがありましてな。馬で遠乗りしてきては寺院の壁に落書きをするので、困っていたものです」
“Indeed I do. I scolded this mischievous little boy once, long ago. He rode all the way here on a horse to scribble graffiti on my temple walls. Caused me quite the headache.”
P37
決まり悪そうにうつむいたフリックを見つめて、フッケンは続ける。
Looking up at Flik, who hung his head, embarrassed, Fukien went on.
「しかし宿星に従い、星主殿に付き従っているところを見て私も安心しました。さて……」
“But seeing him now, accompanying the tenkai star in accordance with the stars of destiny brings me some peace of mind.”
そしてフッケンは、ティルに向き直る。「ティル殿、あなたの求めているものは、この寺院にございます」
He turned to Tir. “Lord Tir, what you seek lies within this temple.”
「ほ、ほんとか？」ティルが答えるより早く、ビクトールがころりと態度を変える。
Before Tir could respond, Viktor’s attitude toward the monk completely changed. “R-really?”
「なんでそれを早く言わないんだよやった、これでネクロードを倒せるぜ！！」
“Why didn’t ya say so sooner, old man! Finally, we can take down Neclord!”
そんなビクトールを見やって、フッケンは言う。「そうです。ビクトール、あなたの求めているものも、この寺院にございます」
“Oh, yes.” Fukien said, gazing at Viktor. “What you seek lies within this temple as well, Viktor.”
「へ？」
“Huh?”
ビクトール、フリック、クレオの三人が、揃って首を傾げた。
Confusion showed on Viktor, Flik, and Cleo’s faces.
しかしティルだけは、フッケンの言葉の意味を理解した。
Only Tir understood what Fukien meant.
ティルが求めるものはソウルイーターの真の姿であり、ビクトールが求めるものはネクロードを倒す方法ーーそれぞれが別のものを求めて、この寺院を訪れたからだ。
They had come to this temple seeking different things—Tir wanted to discover the true nature of the Soul Eater, and Viktor was looking for a method to defeat Neclord.
四人の名前を言い当てた時から、ティルはフッケンの眼力を信じるに値すると感じていた。
Fukien calling them all by name had been enough for Tir to believe in his powers of observation.
となれば、ここには本当にソウルイーターの答えがある。
An answer to the riddle of the Soul Eater is right here in front of me.
翌朝戦士の村を出発したティルたちは、クロン寺院を訪ねるため西へ馬を走らせた。
The next morning, Tir and the others departed the Warrior’s Village and galloped west to visit Qlon Temple.
少年の頃、仲間とクロン寺院に行ったことがあるとフリックは言った。
Flik told them he had visited the temple with friends when he was a boy.
「なかに入ったわけじゃないから、よくわからないけどさ。
“It’s not like we went inside though, so I don’t know much about it.
その頃はフッケンっていう怖い坊主がいて、俺たちを見つけたとたん『ここは貴様らの来るところではない！！』なんて、えらい剣幕で怒鳴りやがったんだ。あのクソ坊主、今でもいるのかなあ」
Back then there was this scary old monk, Fukien. When he found us sneaking around, he got really angry and yelled at us. ‘This is no place for you brats!’. Wonder if the old man is still there…”
なんとも頼りないが、とりあえずフリックが場所を覚えていたのは幸いだった。
While this account was not terribly reassuring, they were just happy Flik remembered where the temple was.
遠くにロリマー山脈が見えているものの、東西南北どちらを向いても草原が広がるロリマー地方である。
Although they could see the Lorimar mountain range in the distance, the plains of the Lorimar region spread out around them in every direction.
うっかり方向を間違えれば、たった―つの寺院など見つけられなくてもおかしくはない。
If they took a wrong turn, Tir doubted they would come across any temple at all, never mind the one they were actually looking for.
二度の野宿と何度かの休息を挟みながら進み、三日目の昼過ぎ。
They slept outdoors twice, and took any number of breaks throughout the day. Eventually, it was past noon of the third day.
ティルたちが目を凝らすと、遠くのほうに茶色の建物がぽつんと建っているのが見えた。
Tir and the others squinted and could just make out a light-brown building standing alone in the distance.
進むにつれ、細い濠に囲まれたクロン寺院の姿が次第に明らかになってゆく。
As they traveled on, Qlon temple and the thin moat surrounding it came into focus more clearly.
P35
建物の四隅にある八角形の楼閣はクナン地方の建築様式を思わせるが、この寺院は木で造られていた。
The temple was octagonal and multi-storied in the architectural style of the Kunan region, but made of wood.
質素な薄い板の壁、屋根を覆う黒い板。
The walls were thin planks of wood, the roof covered in black planks.
くすんだ感じではあるが、お香の匂いが漂うあたり、いかにも寺院らしかった。
While the building looked unassuming, the fragrance of incense wafted out toward them, giving it the air of a temple.
「お待ちしておりました、星主殿……」
“I have long awaited your arrival, Keeper of the Stars…”
ティルたちが寺院の前まで来た時、厳かな男性の声と共に、重そうな門がゆっくりと開いた。
As they stood before the temple, the heavy-looking gates slowly swung open and a man’s solemn voice greeted them.
ティルたちが驚いていると、門の奥に一人の男が立っていた。
To their shock, a single man stood there. He had opened the gates alone.
僧侶らしく頭を丸め、瞼にまで垂れた豊かな眉毛の下には澄んだ瞳が光っている。
His head was shaved like a monk’s, and his eyes sparkled behind long eyebrows that drooped down to nearly cover them.
大きな数珠を首から下げ、鮮やかな朱色の袈裟を纏った僧侶を見るなり、フリックがぼそりと呟く。
A string of large prayer beads hung around his neck and he wore bright crimson robes.
「まだ生きてやがったか……」
“The old geezer’s still alive, huh?”, whispered Flik.
僧侶はじろりとフリックを睨んでから、ティルに深々と頭を下げた。
The monk shot a withering look at Flik and then bowed deeply to Tir.
「天魁星の宿星を背負うティル殿。私、このクロン寺院を預かるフッケンと申します。あなた様のおいでを一日千秋の思いでお待ちしておりました」
“Lord Tir, bearer of the Tenkai star of fate. I am Fukien. I care for Qlon temple. I have waited for you all here for what seems like an eternity.”
「フッケン殿、なぜそれを？」皆と共に馬を降り、ティルは思わず聞き返した。
“Master Fukien, how do you know about that?” Tir asked without thinking, as everyone got down off their horses.
自分が宿星を導く天魁星を背負っていることは、レックナートしか知らないと思っていたからだ。
I thought only Leknaat knew about the stars of fate and my role in all this.
しかしフッケンが答える前に、ビクトールが横から口を出す。
But Viktor butted in before the monk could answer.
Suikoden I Soul Eater Light Novel Translation - Chapter 22!
For your reading pleasure and enjoyment, below the cut is the full rough English translation of chapter 22 of the official 1998 Suikoden I Soul Eater novel (volume 3 of 3).
Individual page translations and original Japanese text can be found in the chapter 22 tag. As always, feedback on translations is welcome.
Thank you so much to everyone for your support and your comments. They keep me going! Eventually I want to run a Kickstarter to officially license and print these books! Email me at [email protected] if you're interested in helping plan this.
Chapter 22:
The Man Who Chases the Night
A gentle, early summer breeze blew across Lake Toran. As the wind blew in through the window of Tir’s room, he was laying on his bed, gazing up at the blue sky.
Four months had already passed since his battle with his father, Teo. After they defeated Teo’s units—the main force of the Imperial Army—there hadn’t been any other big battles, but a war was still raging in Tir’s heart.
Just what is the Soul Eater?
He had been able to think of nothing else since Leknaat’s visit after the battle with his father. Even when he was training with his staff, even in the middle of military matters, even when he went out fishing with Yam Koo for a change of pace—all it took was him noticing one aching twinge of the rune on his hand to send his mind tumbling back to that question.
Tir went around asking everyone he could think of. He started with Cleo, then the rune master, Jeane, and even Luc, Leknaat’s disciple who bore the True Wind Rune... but none of them knew anything about the Soul Eater.
I only know two things for sure. One, the rune is cursed. Two, something strange happens to it each time someone dear to me loses their life.
But these two facts brought him no closer to understanding the true nature of the rune, and his spirits failed to lift as the days passed. Gazing at the clear blue sky, Tir thought to himself, If I could leave on a journey right now, I’d try and look for clues about my rune.
He took a breath and jumped up from his bed. Well, doesn’t hurt to try, right? he thought, and went to Mathiu’s room.
There he found Mathiu, Lepant, Kasumi, Viktor, and Flik. The five of them were putting their heads together discussing something.
“Heya, Tir! Perfect timing,” Viktor said, turning to him with a grin. He got up from his seat and stood next to Tir, smiling cheerfully. “We were actually just talkin’ about what to do next. Wanna go on a trip with us? Whaddya say?”
“A trip? Why?” Asked Tir, surprised by the sudden question. “What’s going on?”
“Lord Tir, the Liberation Army has already liberated the Great Forest and the Kunan region,” Lepant began by way of explanation. “For the moment, we have also taken back the Goran region, which Lord Teo’s forces had captured. Our strength grows by the day. If we can incite more revolts in other regions, the Imperial Army will focus their attention on putting those down.”
Mathiu continued, expanding on Lepant’s ideas. “We thought, for this purpose, it would be beneficial for us to spread the word in other regions about how we defeated Lord Teo, the strongest in the Empire. There’s no doubt that Lord Teo’s military might had everyone under the Empire’s thumb.”
Lepant spoke again. “Since we defeated Lord Teo, the Imperial Army is reorganizing. They are calling back their regional forces to put down the rebellions closer to the capital. This means that the Imperials have left many regions low on defense. So we’re thinking it’s best to seize on this gap in their armor to bring together rebel forces from many different regions into one force.”
“Now we just need to decide where to go first.” This time it was Kasumi who spoke. “They say that, in recent days, the Imperial Army has completely withdrawn from the Lorimar religion in the southwest of Kunan. In the place of their army, it seems they have dispatched a single general to that area.”
“And that general’s forces number how many?”
“None. The general is there alone.”
Flik crossed his arms. “Then what of the Lorimar Fortress?”
Lorimar Fortress was the name of the stronghold which straddled the upper reaches of the Dunan river that flows between the Lorimar and Kunan regions.
Kasumi frowned. “The fortress was completely empty of soldiers, too. I went to see for myself. Not a single soul. But the weirdest part was that the graves for the fallen soldiers had all been disturbed.”
“Graves, eh?” Viktor rubbed his hand across his unshaven face. “How ‘bout it, Tir? A stronghold where all the graves’ve been messed with... everyone gone but the lone general... Lorimar’s sure fulla puzzles. Sounds like a pretty good adventure, don’t it?”
“Mmh... but can I really go?” Tir hung his head, dejected.
“Hear me out, Tir,” Flik chimed in. “In Lorimar, there’s this place called the Village of Warriors. Even the Empire recognizes their strength. See, in this village, all the men are warriors and all the women are mages. Ignoring all Viktor’s nonsense, if we could enlist the people of that village to the Liberation Army’s cause, they would make a powerful ally, don’t you think?”
“You keep saying’ ‘they’ like they’re a buncha strangers.” Viktor butted in, grinning slyly. “Hey, Tir. Wanna hear somethin’ good?
Flik’s actually from that very village of warriors. And his village has this very interesting ritual. To be recognized as a warrior, the men of the village gotta do this ceremony to become an adult, right? They go on a journey to make a name for themselves. Seems they can’t come back ‘till they’ve done somethin’ really noteworthy. And guess what? Till this day, Flik ain’t ever gone back...”
“Put a sock in it!” Interrupted Flik, clearly riled. “I’m trying to go back now, aren’t I?!”
He got up from his seat, pushed aside Viktor, and stood in front of Tir. “Come on, Tir. Let’s go. You gotta get some fresh air. Staying cooped up in the castle all the time is bringing you down, right?”
There was kindness in Flik’s voice. Tir lifted his eyes to look at his friend and saw a gentle smile on Flik’s face. But he hesitated before answering.
I’m the leader of the Liberation Army. I can’t just leave the castle on a whim...
Tir’s gaze shifted to Mathiu and he saw that the tactician was smiling, too. “Lord Tir, do not fret over us. The Empire does not even have the resources to launch an attack right now. Besides, as our leader, it is one of your duties to recruit new allies for the Liberation Army, is it not?”
“Right! That’s that, then!” Viktor and Flik yelled at the same time, each thumping Tir on the shoulder.
“Okay, hurry up and get ready, Tir! We leave tomorrow,” said Flik, already leaving the room himself at a brisk trot.
“What, so soon?”
“Y’know what they say, gotta strike while the iron’s hot!” Viktor cackled gleefully, slipping past Tir, who was still reeling.
Mathiu followed and called out, “I need to talk to you, Viktor!”
Viktor turned on his heel and the pair went back to Mathiu’s rooms.
Just as Tir was about to leave, Kasumi spoke his name softly. “Lord Tir. It is good, sometimes, to take a trip and distance oneself from battle. Lorimar is beautiful this time of year.”
“That’s true. I’ll be sure to keep my eyes open,” Tir replied absently on his way out.
Maybe this is the perfect excuse to try to unravel the mystery of the Soul Eater.
Tir’s hopes rose and his heart started to beat a little faster.
＊＊＊
The next day, Tir and the others took a boat from the castle docks, heading toward Kunan. The Lorimar region lay alongside the Kunan region, accessible via the Lorimar Fortress. Flik thought that, even on horseback, the trip would take about a week.
Tir’s guard was composed of Flik, Viktor, and Cleo. At first Tir had just planned to go with the two men, but Cleo asked to come along as well. Gremio and Teo’s deaths had left gaping holes in Tir’s heart, and he thought Cleo must be feeling similarly. So it was decided, in the end, that the four of them would go together to Warrior’s Village.
They docked at the town of Teien off Lake Toran and offloaded their horses and cargo. Once they had everything ready, they left the town. Galloping across the fields, Tir saw what Flik had meant—the wind here felt different than at the castle.
Is it summer already…?
This was the first time he had visited Kunan in the four months or so since the battle with his father, Teo. A pleasant, early summer wind blew here, laden with the scent of grass. The field at Scarleticia Castle that had run dark with blood during the battle now burst with fresh life, looking like a completely different place.
As they continued their journey, traveling across the wide fields, camping outside, sitting around the fire, Cleo and Tir both slowly began to smile again. Maybe this change was due to the warm, pleasant weather, or maybe it was thanks to Viktor and Flik’s easygoing, amiable company.
During their trip, Tir asked Flik more about Warrior’s Village. Flik told him that the mayor of the village was a man named Zorak, unrivaled with the sword, but also unmatched in his love of chatting endlessly. He also told him that once a man of the village was recognized as an adult, he could give his sword a name. Tir asked Flik what he had named his sword, but the older man just smiled sadly and didn’t answer.
It took four days to cross the Kunan region on horseback. They passed through Lorimar Fortress, eerily empty, and continued on for three days. At last, the four arrived at Warrior’s Village.
Nestled in lush greenery, the village felt quiet. Simple huts with straw-thatched roofs dotted the village. A clanging sound came from somewhere, perhaps a blacksmith at work. The four travelers felt their hearts relax in this peaceful environment.
Feeling the evening breeze on his skin, Flik looked around the quiet village and let out a big sigh of relief. Maybe happy to be back in his hometown after so long, a smile played on his lips. “All right, first things first! Let’s go give the mayor a visit.”
Flik strode forward, the wind pushing his blue cape out behind him. Tir followed after, then Viktor, and Cleo came last. Flik walked through the village square and went straight to the large house on the left. He knocked on the door.
“Mayor Zorak?” he called out. But there was no reply.
“Is the mayor in?” Flik tried once more, but, again, no reply came. “No good, looks like he’s not home.”
“Flik, wait.” Cleo held a finger to her lips.
Listening closely, they could hear the sound of someone muttering inside the house and clattering noises as if someone were ransacking the place, searching for something.
“Hey.” Viktor whispered, pointing at the door. Flik nodded. He turned the doorknob and cautiously pushed the door open. It swung open slowly, hinges creaking. Peering through the gap, they saw a solidly built middle-aged man moving from room to room in a blind panic. Lost in his search, it seemed the man hadn’t heard Flik.
“I’ll show you to look down on the Warrior’s Village, Neclord...!” they heard the man hiss.
“What did you just say?!” Viktor cried in shock.
“Viktor?”
But Viktor ignored Tir and barged into the house. “Hey, old man! Did you just say ‘Neclord’?!”
“What the—?! Who the devil are you?!” The man stopped rummaging in his closet and turned to Viktor, a fierce glint in his eye. He had an eyepatch over one eye, his face covered in scars from sword wounds. It was Mayor Zorak.
The mayor looked ready for battle. He wore a crimson cape, a dark green breastplate, and golden knee plates. His very expression brimmed with the dignity befitting the mayor of a village of warriors.
To everyone’s astonishment, Viktor lashed out at the mayor, completely out of control. The man in front of them now bore no resemblance to their easy-going friend.
“Shuddup! I’m the one askin’ questions here! Answer me! What do you know about Neclord?!”
Tir and the others rushed to pull Viktor away from Zorak.
“What’s come over you, Viktor? Calm down.” Cleo spoke to him in soothing tones while Viktor continued to glare at the mayor.
Something big must have happened to shake Viktor up this badly.
Tir moved to stand in front of Zorak. “I am Tir McDohl, leader of the Liberation Army. My sincerest apologies for entering your house so suddenly and without permission. We meant no offense.”
Zorak’s remaining eye widened in surprise, then narrowed to look at Tir more closely. “What? Leader of the...? Well, this is a surprise.” He smiled good-naturedly. “I am Zorak, mayor of this village. Word of your activities have reached us even here. You honor me greatly by coming all this way to visit.”
A little embarrassed by how politely Zorak spoke to him, Tir was at a loss as to how to reply. But Zorak looked past Tir, noticing Flik for the first time.
“Oho! Why, if it isn’t Flik! Have you returned to our village to present your achievements?” His tone changed completely from the one he had used with Tir to a much stricter way of speaking.
Flik wilted a little under Zorak’s gaze, but answered. “N-no, sir. That’s not why I’m here. I thought I would give you a report on what I hope to achieve, which is still in progress.”
“Hmm. Well, in that case, get on with it, boy. Spit it out.”
“Mayor, you spoke of a Neclord just now. Who is that? It seems my colleague here is an acquaintance of his...”
“Acquaintance, my ass! I’m no friend of that bastard’s.”
Glancing over at Viktor’s outburst, Zorak agreed. “Mmh. It seems this gentleman does have some connection to Neclord. Let us discuss this matter in more detail.”
The mayor led them to the living room. They sat on the sofa, and Zorak began to speak, the words tumbling out in a rush. “This tale brings me great shame, but please hear me out. It was about three months ago that a new general, Neclord, first came here to rule over this region. In the beginning, our village was an ally of the Scarlet Moon Empire. If you follow the records back to Solar year twenty, Klift the Crusader...”
“Mayor...” Flik hastened to intervene. “We’re not here for a history lesson. We would like to know about Neclord, please.”
“R-right. Of course. Neclord moved into this area and cast a terrible spell. He turned all of our dead into zombies and skeletons... undead monsters.”
“Ah, I see.” Cleo nodded. “That’s one mystery solved.”
The disturbed graves at Lorimar must have been the result of Neclord raising his forces.
His gaze earnest, Zorak went on. “Neclord took the old castle in the southeast for his base and now he has begun using his army of undead to terrorize the neighboring villages. He made the villages hand over their young women. Our own daughters...!”
“Yep, that’s his M.O., all right,” Viktor grumbled.
Zorak’s face suddenly clouded in frustration. “Neclord demanded the same of our village. I had to give him my own daughter, Tengaar. On our pride as the Warrior’s Village, we fought back... but Neclord used his powerful magic and defeated us.”
“Yeah, that’s how it goes with him.” Viktor shut his eyes, scrubbing his hands along his scruffy stubble.
For a moment, no one spoke. Flik broke the silence to ask, “So what became of Tengaar?”
“She was abducted, like all the rest! But the Warrior’s Village will not let it end like this!” Zorak roared, jumping to his feet. “I was just preparing to storm his castle and take back our daughters and our pride. Tomorrow I will march with fifty hand-picked warriors to attack. We’ll capture Neclord and wring his neck!”
Viktor sighed loudly, stopping Zorak in his tracks. He looked straight at them and said bluntly, quietly, “Yeah, it ain’t gonna work.”
His words were met with shocked silence. Zorak raised his voice. “Wh-what?! Explain yourself, sir!”
“Like I said, it ain’t gonna work.” Viktor drawled in his usual laid-back way of speaking. “You attack Neclord by any normal means, you’re just sendin’ your men to an early grave for no damn reason.”
Zorak grabbed him. “You dare mock the warriors of this village?! Your insolence knows no bounds, sir!”
Flik and Tir hurriedly got between the two and pacified the older man. The mayor glared daggers at Viktor for a while in loathing, but eventually spoke again. “My apologies for getting worked up. However, Lord Viktor, why ever would you say that we cannot bring down this enemy?”
“Mr. Mayor, Zorak...” Viktor replied, his voice soft. “I understand how frustrated you must be feelin’, havin’ your daughter abducted like that. But you gotta understand. Neclord ain’t a creature you can defeat by any normal means of attack. It’s best ya just think of him as a impossibly powerful opponent.”
“Yes, of course we realize how powerful he is. That is why we—”
Viktor once again interrupted the mayor with a loud sigh. “That’s not what I’m sayin’. Neclord ain’t human. The power of his rune turned him into a vampire. That’s why normal weapons won’t even scratch him.”
“What?!”
“You need somethin’ special to bring that bastard down. Beats me what that something is, but until you find a weapon that’ll have an effect on him, no point in rushin’ in.”
“I see...” Zorak stared at the floor. “I had no idea, Lord Viktor. I apologize for losing my temper. Please forgive me.”
“S’all good. You’re worried about your daughter, ain’tcha? It was me who got bent outta shape first.” Viktor smiled, looking oddly forlorn. “By the by, you know anywhere we could get our hands on a weapon that’ll defeat a vampire? Since you’re the mayor of the Warrior’s Village an’ all, figured you’d know a thing or two ‘bout weapons.”
“Hmm...” Zorak hummed in thought. “While I do not know of a specific weapon, there is a temple to the west of here. Qlon Temple. They are said to be miracle workers. Especially for those who have troubles with runes—knock on their gates, and they may offer you an answer in the form of a divine revelation...”
“What did you say?!” Now it was Tir’s turn to shout in surprise.
Troubles with runes! That’s me! I’ve got those!
Staring at Tir, Zorak continued. “It may sound odd, but that is what the rumors say. If it was a rune that turned Neclord into a vampire, then they may be able to tell us a method of defeating him.”
“Qlon Temple, got it!” Viktor practically leapt out of his chair. “Okay, I’m gonna go check it out. I’ll head there, and if there’s a weapon that’ll defeat Neclord, I’ll find it and bring it back.”
“But I couldn’t possibly wrap you all up in this—it isn’t your battle to fight...”
“It’s okay, Mayor Zorak.” Tir jumped to his feet, too. “The Liberation Army was formed in order to free people from the misrule of the Empire. If this Neclord is harassing you, then it is our duty to fight him and put a stop to it. Please, allow us to travel to Qlon Temple on your behalf.”
“Lord Tir...” Zorak let out the breath he had been holding. “Of course. Thank you so much. We will continue our preparations for the raid on Neclord’s castle, and will await your return.”
“‘Sides, I’ve got a private score to settle with Neclord,” Viktor growled almost to himself, his tone brooking no argument.
***
Their next course of action was decided. They would depart for Qlon temple in the morning. Zorak let them stay at his house that night. The four travelers were able to eat a meal and rest their bodies, exhausted after their travels.
Though he was getting a little tired of the mayor’s chatter, Tir did enjoy the tour he gave them of family heirlooms—weapons, armor, and other artifacts—passed down through the generations. And so the night deepened.
Flik came back from meeting up with old childhood friends and, at long last, everyone climbed into their beds. Wrapped up in his warm blankets, Tir listened to the sound of the wind blowing outside the window and thought.
If I go to Qlon Temple, maybe I’ll learn something about the Soul Eater.
Once again, he began pondering the nature of the rune on his right hand.
Creak...
He heard the quiet creak of floorboards. Listening closely, he heard footsteps walking over to the window, where moonlight flooded in, and then a big sigh. Viktor stood at the window, looking at the moon, which had risen high in the sky.
“What’s up, Viktor?” Tir got out of bed and went over to stand at the window with him. Standing in the moonlight, Viktor’s expression looked sorrowful, somehow.
“What’s up with you, Tir? Can’t sleep?”
“Yeah, guess so.”
Of course, Tir was worrying over the Soul Eater. But since they came to this village and met the mayor, he had gained yet another worry to add to his list. Viktor, who knew so much about Neclord. Viktor, who turned into a completely different person when it came to the subject of Neclord.
What in the world has he been through?
“Hey, Viktor. How do you know so much about Neclord, anyhow?”
Viktor’s sharp gaze met his, like a knife to the stomach. “You really wanna know?”
“I... think so...” Tir faltered. Staring back into Viktor’s eyes, Tir recalled that Viktor had never spoken a word about his own past. Not a word. Not when they first met, not during all their travels together, not even when they fought at each other’s backs.
“Tell me, Viktor,” Tir commanded, still looking him straight in the eye.
“All right... but you asked for it.”
Sighing wearily, Viktor began his tale.
He had come from the City-States of Jowston—that age-old enemy of the Scarlet Moon Empire. Born and raised in North Window village in the south of the city-states.
One night, when he was twenty-one years old, Viktor had gone to a neighboring village to buy something. But when he returned to North Window, he found his home utterly changed. Fires burned throughout the village. As he made his way through the town, his ears were filled with the moans of the suffering, and even covering his nose, his nostrils still filled with the stench of rotting flesh. Treading carefully, he returned home… to find his family had been turned to zombies, and were eating each other’s flesh.
He was shaken to his core. The villagers-turned-zombies swooped down on him. Amid his tears and his rage, he swung his sword, chopping down zombies in droves.
That was when Neclord appeared before him. Purple hair oiled and slicked back, his face as pale as a corpse. The man’s lips twisted in an unpleasant, condescending smile. His long, skeleton-thin body was clad in pitch-black formal attire and a cape, black on one side and crimson on the other. He leered at Viktor and declared, “It was I who turned your friends and family into zombies.”
Unable to contain his rage, Viktor stabbed Neclord. But being a vampire, Viktor’s attacks had no effect. Instead, he himself was driven nearly to death’s door.
“And that’s when my journey to hunt down Neclord began...” finished Viktor, still looking up at the moon.
“I’m so sorry, Viktor...” Tir mumbled, dropping his gaze to the floor. “I had no idea...”
He understood how painful it was to recall these kinds of memories and felt bad for making Viktor talk about his troubled past. But Viktor’s usual carefree manner returned and he spoke to Tir kindly. “S’okay. Was thinkin’ I’d have to tell you about it someday, anyway. ‘Bout time I found the bastard, eh?”
The ghost of a smile twisting up the corners of his mouth, Viktor ruffled Tir’s hair, making a bird’s nest of it. “Get some rest, kiddo. I’m gonna look at the moon a while longer.”
“Okay, Viktor...”
Tir padded across the wooden floor and climbed back into his bed. Viktor eventually got under his own blankets. Tir fell asleep listening to him sigh.
p32
物憂げに息を吐いて、ビクトールは話をはじめた。
Sighing wearily, Viktor began his tale.
彼は赤月帝国の宿敵とも言える、ジョウストン都市同盟から来た。
He had come from the City-States of Jowston—that age-old enemy of the Scarlet Moon Empire.
都市同盟領南にある村、ノースウィンドゥで生まれ育ったという。
Born and raised in North Window village in the south of the city-states.
ビクトールが二十一歳の時の、ある夜ー。
One night, when he was twenty-one years old…
近くの町まで買い物に出てノースウィンドゥに戻った彼は、月に照らされた村の様子がいつもと違うことに気づいた。
He had gone to a neighboring village to buy something. But when he returned to North Window, he found his home utterly changed.
村のあちこちに火の手が上がり、通りは苦しげな呻きと鼻を覆わずにはいられない腐臭で満たされていた。
Fires burned throughout the village. As he made his way through, his ears were filled with the moans of the suffering, and even covering his nose, his nostrils were filled with the stink of rotting flesh.
周囲に注意を払いながら家に戻ってみると、そこでは、ゾンビと化した家族がお互いの肉を喰らい合っていた。
Moving cautiously, he returned home… to find his family had been turned to zombies, and were eating each other’s flesh.
愕然とするビクトールに、ゾンビとなった村人が襲いかかる。
He was shocked to his core. The villagers-turned-zombies swooped down on him.
涙と恐怖のなかで剣を振るい、村人を、ゾンビを卸していた時、ネクロードが彼の前に現れた。
Amid his tears and his rage, he swung his sword, chopping down zombies in droves. That was when Neclord appeared before him.
紫色の髪を油で撫でつけ、死人のような青白い顔には、人を見下したような嫌らしい笑みを浮かべている。
Purple hair oiled and slicked back, his face as pale as a corpse. His lips twisted in an unpleasant, condescending smile.
長身の身体を真っ黒な礼服で包み、表は黒で裏地は赤のマントを羽織ったネクロードが、不適な笑みを浮かべてビクトールに言った。
Neclord’s long, thin body was clad in pitch-black formal attire and a cape that was black on one side and crimson on the other. He leered at Viktor and said,
村人を、ゾンビにしたのは、自分だーーと。
“It was I who turned your friends and family into zombies.”
ビクトールは怒りを抑えきれず、ネクロードに斬りかかった。
Unable to contain his rage, Viktor stabbed Neclord.
しかし吸血鬼である彼に攻撃は効かず、逆に死の瀬戸際まで追いやられたーー。
But being a vampire, Viktor’s attacks had no effect. Instead, he himself was driven nearly to death’s door.
「それからさ、俺が、ネクロードを追って旅に出たのは…」
“And that’s when my journey to hunt down Neclord began…”
P33
月を見上げたまま、ビクトールはそう話を締めくくった。
Viktor finished his story, still looking up at the moon.
外の庭に目を落として、ティルが呟く。「ごめん…。そんなことがあったなんて、知らなかったよ… 」
“I’m so sorry, Viktor…” Tir mumbled, dropping his gaze to the floor. “I had no idea…”
過去を思い出すたびに辛くなるのは、ティルも同じだった。
Tir understand how painful it was to recall these kinds of memories
ビクトールに辛い過去を思い出させてしまったことを、ティルは悔いた。
and he felt bad for making Viktor talk about his troubled past.
しかしビクトールは普段の飄々とした彼に戻ると、ティルに優しく声をかける。
But Viktor’s usual carefree manner returned and he spoke to Tir kindly.
「いいさ、いつかは話す時が来ると思ってたしな。
“S’okay. Was thinkin’ I’d have to tell you about it someday, anyway.
ついにヤツを見つけたんだ、ちょうどいい頃合いだろうよ。
‘Bout time I found the bastard!
さて」
Ain’t that right?”
笑みを浮かべて、ビクトールはティルの頭を乱暴に撫でる。
The ghost of a smile twisting up the corners of his mouth, Viktor ruffled Tir’s hair, making a bird’s nest of it.
「もうティルは休みな。俺はもう少し、この月を見ているよ」
“Get some rest, kiddo. I’m gonna look at the moon a while longer.”
「うん、わかった…」
“Okay, Viktor…”
木の床を踏んで、ティルは自分のベッドに戻った。
Tir padded across the wooden floor and climbed back into his bed.
そして毛布に潜ってビクトールのため息を聞いているうちに、眠りに落ちた。
Viktor eventually got under his own blankets. Tir fell asleep listening to him sigh.
