#c:figaro

[moonroads]

That which remains on the walls [Figaro South Ballad card]

Translation includes the card story, card episode, and home line

Card story: That which remains on the walls

Chapter 1

Akira: What a vast place this underground palace is. No matter how far I walk, there’s no end in sight.

Figaro: Truly, building an expansive palace as this would have been backbreaking work.

Akira: Huh? What can this be….

Figaro: Did you find something, Sir Sage?

Akira: It’s hard to tell as it’s so dirty, but isn’t something like a mural painted over here?

Figaro: Here, if I clear away the dust perhaps it’ll be easier to see. <<Possideo>>

Akira: Thank you very much. Wow, it’s quite a large painting.

Figaro: This…looks like a painting that depicts the livelihoods of the civilization responsible for it. There might have been humans residing around here in the past.  

Akira: Wow…a narrative can be conveyed with just a painting.

Akira: Ah, this part…it looks like it’s depicting a wizard, isn’t it? It looks like the use of magic is being depicted here…

Figaro: Huh? Ah, I suppose it does look like a wizard. I wonder if they were living together with humans.

Akira: In the Southern country, humans and wizards have been living and working together hand in hand since the past, right? That’s wonderful!

Akira: (If only humans and wizards could cooperate like this everywhere else too, just like this mural….)

[Perhaps it was due to harbouring such hopes, I touched the wizard on the mural as if attracted by some unknown force.]

Akira: Ah…! W-what is that?!

Figaro: Sir Sage, over here!

[Suddenly, there was a tremor coming from a stretch of the mural wall. Figaro drew me towards him as I became disoriented by the situation.]

[A thick wall rose from our feet with a rumble immediately after, and only stopped after reaching the palace ceiling.]

Akira: T-that was dangerous. Thank you, Figaro.

Figaro: I’m glad you’re safe, Sir Sage. But well, it seems like we’ve landed ourselves in a fair bit of trouble.

Akira: Huh….? We’re locked in?!

Figaro: It looks like touching the walls will trigger a mechanism that locks us up. This might be a trap.  

Akira: A trap? Why would such a thing…?

Figaro: Who knows? This mural must have been quite valuable.

Akira: I’m really sorry… It’s all because I touched the wall without thinking.

Figaro: Don’t mind it, I too did not anticipate that such a mechanism could have been equipped to the wall. Anyhow, let’s think of a way to escape.

Akira: …Alright. However, this is a pretty sturdy wall, isn’t it? Will we be able to break it?

Figaro: Hm, let’s see…I can destroy it with magic, but if we’re careless this entire underground palace might collapse.

Akira: Huh?    

Chapter 2

Akira: I’m very sorry! To think that I dragged even you into this mess, Figaro…. What happens if we can’t escape?

Figaro: Don’t you worry, Sir Sage. It’ll be alright, I’m here with you. I’m sure we’ll figure something out.

Akira: (Figaro’s so calm and dependable…I need to pull myself together…)

Mithra: You lot are so loud.

Akira: M-Mithra?!

Figaro: Mithra, when did you get in here?

Mithra: I’ve been sprawling over there long before the both of you arrived. It’s so cold and relaxing, it feels like just the thing to make me sleep well.  

Akira: (So Mithra has been looking for a place where he can sleep, even in the underground palace…What should I do now that even Mithra’s locked up together with us?)

Akira: (…Ah, that’s right!)          

Mithra: I’m wide awake from the noise you all made. What are you going to do about this?  

Akira: I’m very sorry. I-I’ll give a proper apology for this, so could you kindly help us escape out of here with the help of your teleportation magic?

Mithra: That sounds troublesome. I decline.

Akira: Please, I’m begging you…! I’ll search for more ways to make you sleep and strive even harder in cooperating with you, so please…!  

Mithra: …Sigh, it can’t be helped. Staying here forever is boring for me too, so I suppose I’ll help you on my way out.

Akira: Thank you very much!

Figaro: As expected of Sir Sage. To make the Mithra obey you with words alone, how impressive.

Mithra: What? I don’t recall obeying anyone.

Akira: Mithra only kindly listened to my request, isn’t that right Mithra?

Mithra: By the way, why were you trapped in here of all places?

Figaro: You see this mural over here? Touching this mural seems to trigger a trap.

Mithra: I see….

Mithra: The wizard over here, isn’t it Figaro?

Akira: Huh?

Mithra: For some reason, I get irritated just by looking at it.

Akira: Is that so?!

Figaro: Hm…who knows? Living so long makes one forget all sorts of things.

Figaro: Rather than that, let’s prioritize getting out of here first. Everyone might be looking for us.

Akira: That’s right! Mithra, please!

Mithra: Putting aside Sir Sage, I’m under no obligation to take Figaro along.

Akira: Please don’t say that….

Chapter 3:

Akira: Mithra, could you please allow Figaro to come along too?

Akira: If we carelessly destroy the walls or our surroundings, we might cause the collapse of this palace. That’s why we have not been able to escape all this while.

Mithra: Well, that’s none of my business.

Figaro: If this palace were to collapse, we might endanger not just Rutile and Mitile, but the others too.  

Figaro: I want to avoid harm from befalling those children. I’m sure you feel the same too, yes?

Mithra: …

Figaro: Besides, just like what’s depicted on that mural, I still have much to do for the betterment of human-wizard relations.

Mithra: Sigh… The way you hide under the pretense of a good person gives me the creeps.

Figaro: Ahaha. I’m being sincere, though.

Mithra: Well, it’ll be troublesome if anything were to happen to those brothers. I suppose I’ll bring you along, as reluctant as I may be.

Figaro: Thanks, I’m in your debt.

Akira: Thank goodness!

Mithra: <<Arthim>>

Mithra: Look, we can go outside now.

Akira: Thank you very much!

[Just before entering the door Mithra linked for us, Figaro paused his steps and looked back.]

Figaro: …<<Possideo>>

Akira: (He faced the mural and chanted his incantation?)

Mithra: Please hurry up already. Do you want to be left behind?

Figaro: My bad, my bad. I’m just about finished. Let’s go.

Akira: What kind of magic did you cast just now, Figaro?

Figaro: For a mural to come with such an elaborate trap, it must have been important. I cast protection magic to preserve it from decaying.  

Figaro: Who knows when will be the next time someone lays their eyes on it? It’s such a shame if it were to disappear, though.  

Akira: That means…as I thought, the wizard on the mural was you, wasn’t it?

Figaro: …I merely meant to pay my respects to the people who left this mural behind.

Figaro: Well then, our sudden disappearance might be a cause of worry for Rutile. Let’s hurry and return to where everyone is.

Card episode: Figaro-style method for a restful sleep

Akira: Hm, this isn’t working…Moving on…

Figaro: What’s wrong, Sir Sage? Why don’t you try confiding your worries to Dr. Figaro?

Akira: Thank you very much, Figaro. Rather than having worries, I’m at my wits’ end with regards to something….

Akira: I’ve been thinking of more ways to help Mithra sleep. I’ve even tried them all out, to no avail.

Akira: I got the help of Rutile and Mitile too, but I’ve run out of ideas.

Figaro: Hang in there. You’re a hardworking person, aren’t you Sir Sage?

Figaro: To be honest, I too have been helping Mithra sleep. It’s because of the favour I’m obliged to repay at the underground palace.

Akira: That’s right! By the way, how are you helping him?

Figaro: Isn’t there a saying that there are benefits that come with just closing your eyes when you have difficulty sleeping? That’s why I shut Mithra’s eyelids with magic and made it such that he can’t open them.  

Akira: (He used a surprisingly forceful method!)

Akira: How was it?

Figaro: I tested it over the span of a couple of days, but it hardly had any effect. What a troublesome thing, these afflictions caused by the Calamity.

Akira: (For Mithra to listen to Figaro, of all things. He must have wanted to sleep so badly.)

Figaro: Sir Sage, the same goes for you too if you have a hard time sleeping. I’ll kindly cast a spell on you, so don’t be shy.  

Akira: O-of course! When the time comes, please be gentle with me.

Home line: Show off my magic, you say? Sure. Cool magic or entertaining magic, which do you prefer? Don’t worry, I won’t be using any scary magic of course. 

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Not proofread (unless you count MS word’s grammar check). Hit up my ask or cc for any mistakes/suggestions! 

[moonroads]

2nd Anniversary Spot Sub-Episode [Figaro]

Akira: Borda island is famous as a tourist attraction, so I heard that there are lots of tourists coming to celebrate anniversaries and such.

Akira: Do you have any particularly memorable anniversaries, Figaro?

Figaro: Anniversaries, huh…

Figaro: Wait just a sec, okay? I have too many recollections to sift through, it’s gonna take a while to make my life flash before my eyes.

Akira: Please stop that, your life flashing before your eyes isn’t a very auspicious phrase in my world. 

Figaro: Really? Alrighty then. 

Figaro: During my world domination times with Oz, we commemorated it once.

Figaro: Oz finally stepped out of the North and worked hard, so once we’ve conquered a fair bit of territory, I said I’d commemorate the occasion for him or something like that. 

Akira: (If it weren’t celebrating a successful world domination conquest, this might have been heartwarming.)

Figaro: After that was when Faust was my apprentice and I mentioned that a celebration is in order when he’s trained ample enough, I guess?

Figaro: I think I also told everyone when we started reclaiming the wilderness of the South country, that we should celebrate success in cultivating the lands into arable ones when the time comes. 

Figaro: ...Now that I think about it, I guess I do like calling for a celebration for others’ accomplishments, huh.

Figaro: I should have been a teacher instead of a doctor. Hmm..maybe I’ll become one of Rutile’s colleagues this time.

Akira: You’re indeed good at teaching.

Akira: I think you still can do that as a doctor, though.

Figaro: You’re right. Well then, if you become a legendary sage, I’ll give you the best celebration you can ask for. How’s that for motivation? 

Akira: A legendary sage....

Figaro: I’m talking about being extraordinary. I like backing people who do exceptional things like conquering the world and leading a revolution, you know?

[moonroads]

A fate shared by 22 [Figaro 1st Anniversary Card]

Translation includes the card story, card episode, and home line. Thanks to the mhyk spreadsheet for the title!

Card episode – When I take hold of that hand

Chapter 1

Mitile: Let’s hurry and invite them!

Lennox: Yes, let’s.

Rutile: You’re so enthusiastic about this, Mitile!

Figaro: Haha, you don’t have to be in such a hurry.

Akira: Hello! What’s going on?

Mitile: Ah, Sir Sage! You appeared at the right time. We were about to search for you.

Akira: Me?

Mitile: Yes! The people of the Town of Clouds will be holding a party for us. They said it’s to show their appreciation for us Southern Wizards.

Mitile: It’s written in the invitation card that they hope Sir Sage can attend too. If it’s okay, would you like to come with us?

Akira: A party sounds wonderful! Please let me come along.

Akira: That’s right. Since they took the trouble to invite me, I think I should prepare some gifts, don’t you agree?

Lennox: We also were talking about bringing something to the party.

Figaro: Since Sir Sage is here, why don’t we go shopping in the Central Country’s marketplace now?

Rutile: Sounds great! Let’s search for the best gift!

Rutile: As expected, there are so many shops in the streets of Central Country.

Lennox: Rather than everyone going together, it looks like it’s better if we split into two groups.

Figaro: In that case, I’ll browse the street over with Sir Sage. Let’s reconvene here after our shopping’s finished.

Mitile: Got it. Brother, Mr. Leno, let’s go!

Akira: Figaro, have you decided on what you’d be buying?

Figaro: Yep, I found a good liquor store just the other day. I was thinking of buying some of the rare-looking alcohol over there.

Figaro: The store’s in the marketplace over there. Here, I’ll guide you to it.

Akira: Yes, please. …Ah.

Woman: Oh my, sorry for crashing onto you.

Akira: Not at all, the fault is mine.

Figaro: Sir Sage, are you okay? It’s crowded here, so walk over at this side, won’t you?

Akira: Thank you. No matter when we visit, it’s always lively in the Central Country’s streets, isn’t it?

Figaro: It gives off the feeling of a downtown area, right? In the Southern Country, even if you walk right smack in the middle of the road, you’d hardly bump shoulders with anyone.

Akira: Haha. There are much lesser people living in the Southern Country, and it’s filled with nature everywhere.

[As I walked, I admired the bustling streets and the brisk cityscape.]

Akira: …This is nostalgic. We had a parade on this street, hadn’t we?

Figaro: Never in my wildest dreams did I think of that happening. For the people of the Town of Clouds to hold a party for us as well…

Akira: I’m sure everyone is proud of you and the rest of the Southern Countries’ wizards’ achievements. I’m looking forward to the party!

Young boy: Hey, you! Wanna take a look at our fruits?

Chapter 2

Figaro: Our fruits? So that means…this is your store?

Young boy: That’s right!

Akira: (This boy looks like he’s around Mitile’s age. Isn’t he a little too young to be a store owner?)

Man: My, are these customers?

[A man with crutches appeared from the back of the shop.]

Man: Apologies for my state. Last week I had a bad fall down some stairs, you see. So, my son is helping out in this store.

Young boy: Our store is the best! My dad only gets the freshest and yummiest for our fruits!

Akira: (It’s so heart-warming…the way he tries his hardest is somehow kind of similar to Mitile…)

Figaro: How admirable, for you to take care of your father’s store in his stead. There is also a child that’s around your age amongst my students, whom I’m all very proud of, by the way.

Figaro: He’s a well-behaved child like you are, very family-oriented and ever so reliable.

Young boy: Ehehe, I see.

[His bashful smile was similar to Mitile’s as well. Figaro pointed at the fruits in the store.]

Figaro: That child likes fruits. I’d like to give him some as a gift, so could you pick out what you’d recommend to me?

Man: Right away! Thanks for your patronage!

Figaro: Yep, guess we’re just about done with our shopping.

Akira: I agree. It’s about time we meet with the others.

Figaro: Say, Sir Sage…thank you.

Akira: Not at all, thanks to you I found some good gifts as well.

Figaro: No, I’m not just talking about today.

Akira: Huh?

Figaro: Of course, I was certainly worried when the crest manifested on Mitile and Rutile.

Figaro: To be chosen as the Sage’s wizard is to brush shoulders with people as good as strangers to you, not to mention people you won’t easily get along with.

Figaro: I was especially worried if Mitile could accustom himself well to this life, for I knew he harboured feelings of dislike against Northern wizards, but…

[A smile graced Figaro’s features.]

Figaro: As if brushing off my concerns, his growth over time is so admirable, I’m surprised! This is also thanks to you, Sir Sage.

Akira: No, it’s nothing like that. It’s all thanks to you and everyone else being by Mitile’s side and carefully watching over him.

Akira: There are times when the both of you look like real family to me.

Figaro: Really? I’m happy if that’s the case.

Figaro: Living for several thousands of years makes bonds like those feel like figments of my imagination, sometimes.

[Figaro said with a blithe laugh.]

[Somehow, his matter-of-fact tone echoed with loneliness.]

Chapter 3

[The party in the Town of Clouds had a homely and cordial atmosphere.]

Townspeople: This pie is fresh out of the oven! Don’t you like pies, Rutile, Mitile?

Rutile: Wow, it smells good!

Mitile: Thank you, Ma’am!

Townspeople: It’s hard work being the Sage’s wizards, isn’t it? Eat to your heart’s content today, got that!

Lennox: Thank you. I’ll eat this well.

Townspeople: Doc, this alcohol’s so good! Everyone’s in high spirits now!

Figaro: That’s great. Leave a little for me, won’t you?

Akira: (Everyone looks like they’re enjoying themselves. Figaro’s alcohol is also garnering rave reviews.)

Akira: (…though)

[Somehow the words Figaro said while we were out shopping refused to leave my mind.]

Mitile: Ah, the music has started!

Rutile: You’re right! We simply must dance. You too, Mr. Leno!

Lennox: Ah, I’m going.

[Everyone started dancing along to the mellow music. The sight of them dancing hand in hand as they form a circle reminded me a little of folk dances.]

Mitile: Sir Sage, won’t you dance too?

Akira: Uhm, then…let’s dance together, Figaro…

Figaro: Whoops, I think I drank a little too much, so I’ll just be looking on from here. Don’t mind me and go on ahead, Sir Sage.

Mitile: Dr. Figaro, honestly…! Didn’t I tell you to pay attention to how much you drink?

Mitile: Here you go, some medicine to help you in sobering up. Please drink it up properly! Now, let’s go, Sir Sage!

[Mitile pulled my hand, including me into the circle where everyone is dancing.]

Rutile: Haha, yes, just like that!

Mitile: Sir Sage, you’re doing so well!

[I could see Figaro watching us dance from a short distance away.]

Akira: (…Ah)

[Those eyes were filled with warmth, akin to watching over something dear. Yet, they were also filled with loneliness that is not unlike being all by oneself on a faraway star.]

Akira: …Excuse me, I’ll be back soon.

Figaro: What’s wrong, Sir Sage?

[Slipping out of the circle, I ran over to Figaro. I extended out my hand straight towards him, who looked at me in puzzlement.]

Akira: If it’s alright with you, would you like to dance together with me?

Figaro: Haha. An invitation from Sir Sage? How surprising. Now then, did you want to have me wrapped around your little finger, hmm?

[At his teasing gaze, I met his eyes in earnest.]

Akira: I have not lived for several thousands of years, so perhaps I can’t begin to understand what you said to me.

Akira: Still, I’m sure that to Mitile and the others, no one could ever replace you in their hearts.

Akira: The same goes for me too, of course.

[Figaro widened his eyes slightly. Like the easing of tension on a string, a smile gradually formed from the corners of Figaro’s lips before long.]

Figaro: Haha…I’m no match for you, Sir Sage.

[An embarrassed Figaro slowly took my hand.]

Rutile, Mitile: Ah, Dr. Figaro!

Lennox: Has your sobriety returned?

Figaro: Yep! Thanks to Mitile’s medicine.

Mitile: That’s good! Now everyone can dance together! Let’s join hands and form a circle!

[Tightly bound to each other, we danced hand in hand. Round and round we went, so that no one wanders off on their own.]

[As laughter surrounded us, Figaro muttered in a voice soft enough for me to be his only audience.]

Figaro: …Thank you, Sir Sage.

Card episode – In spite of growth

Akira: Eh? What’s that, Figaro?

Figaro: They’re cookies Mitile gave me. Nero taught him how to bake, and he made these together with Riquet.

Akira: So it’s handmade by both of them. That’s cute! There’s even a ribbon on the packaging.

Figaro: He also said that he was going to give some of the cookies to Bradley.

Akira: Mitile said that?

Figaro: I heard it’s thanks for previously training with him.

Figaro: Compared to when he was hostile towards the Northern wizards and hated them on sight, he has matured quite a lot.

Akira: That’s true…maybe living together with everyone has been a great learning experience for Mitile.

Figaro: Yep. He has only lived for a little over a decade, yet his growth is remarkable. Amazing, huh?

Akira: …. Eh? Figaro, I think there’s something stuck on the other side of your cookie bag. I think it’s a memo?

Figaro: Huh? …. You’re right. “Dr. Figaro, thanks for everything.”

Figaro: … It’s just like Mitile to do that.

Akira: (Figaro seems happy…)

Figaro: Well! These are some special cookies, so won’t you eat them with me?

Home line

Today is such a special day, how better to spend it than having you here right in front of me? Well then, to the days we’ve spent, and will spend, together…I raise a toast.

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Hit me up at my ask/cc for suggestions/corrections

[moonroads]

Animedia (December 2020 Issue) - South Feature

Animedia (December 2020 Issue) - South Feature

Q1: If Christmas exists in this world, how (and who) do you want to spend the day?

Figaro: If there’s a festival when you spend time with your special someone, I’d probably be asked out by people. I suppose I’d choose a place that feels like ‘I’ll be missing out on something if I don’t go there', you know? I’d like to meet someone close to me before the day ends, though.

Rutile: I heard from Sir Sage that Christmas is a day where we give thanks to our family and god, so maybe I’d like to prepare a feast with Mitile and spend the day relaxing after helping ourselves to the food. Amongst us wizards, there are lots without families, so inviting them and making merry sounds fun too!

Lennox: I don’t have family, nor do I have a lover, so I think I will spend the day together with my lambs. I don’t think it’s a lonely way to spend the day, but if it seems like it’ll be possible to spend time alone with a special someone, perhaps I will extend an invitation to them. I’d ask, ‘I have not prepared anything special, but would you like to have a meal with me?’

Mitile: Older brother* and the adults often hold drinking parties, so I’d like to try exchanging gifts with the young wizards of the wizards’ residence, such as Riquet and Shino. I heard of hanging stars on trees, so I’d like to try that out too!

*The term Mitile uses here is nii-sama, which is a more polite honorific for older brother.

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South wizards’ relationship chart (?)

Figaro → Rutile – It’s good that he grew up to be a reliable, kind child.

Figaro ← Rutile – A dependable, wonderful teacher**.

Figaro → Lennox – Ex-disciple’s underling, I helped him find the job of a shepherd.

Figaro ← Lennox – A distinguished person with a troublesome side.

Figaro → Mitile – I teach him magic.

Figaro ← Mitile – He’s sometimes careless, but he’s an admirable teacher**.

Rutile → Mitile – A cute younger brother, I love him very much.

Rutile ← Mitile – An older brother I can be proud of, I love him very much.

Rutile → Lennox – A sharp, kind person who is reliable.

Rutile ← Lennox – A beautiful, clever child who inherited the good parts of his parents.

Mitile → Lennox – A trustworthy, cool person!

Mitile ← Lennox – A driven, wonderful child.

**Both Rutile and Mitile are using the term sensei, which is the honorific used for both doctors and teachers. I chose to translate it as teacher as I think their comments are referring to the current role he’s playing in their lives (teacher figure training them in magic) 

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Q2. Have you received a present that left a lasting impression?

Figaro: I assume my answer will not be kept secret, so I’ll be employing a little flattery in saying that it’s my orb. It’s an orb specially made by my teachers whom I respect and adore. If I mention gifts from other people, they’ll bother me with their teasing too, so…

Rutile: When we were celebrating an occasion, Mitile gave me earrings he made himself as a present. It made me happy to think that he made something that suits my aesthetics for my sake, and I felt gratified to see him become so mature. I still wear it often on special occasions.

Lennox: As for me, it’s the precious days I’ve spent together with someone. I don’t think that person considers it as a gift though.

Mitile: For me, it’s the magic instruments and texts that Dr Figaro gave me. I received it when I was not able to go to school, because I was scared of being hated as a wizard. I will cherish the presents I received, as well as the encouragement Dr Figaro gave me back then.

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All mistakes are mine, if you spot any please feel free to correct me.