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Anastasia Camp Formation Story Translation Pt 11

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11

—The moment the light was born, I blinked in surprise.

The dazzling light, the faint heat in my palm, the unexpected mechanism, all of it surprised me.

However, out of all of that, there was one thing that burned itself into my eyes and heart the most.

It was—

“—Should I say congratulations?”

Leaning her back against the closed door, she placed her hand on her thin chest and took several deep breaths.

It was in the midst of this frantic attempt to calm herself down that the voice came.

Anastasia narrowed her light blue eyes at the familiar voice and glared into the back of the room.

This was a first-class inn even in the royal capital, and the spacious guest rooms had thick walls with great care taken to prevent noise from leaking to surrounding areas.  In the room she had chosen, Anastasia locked the door behind her and said,

“Even if ya say congratulations, I don’t know what ya mean.”

“After all that, the thing you wanted came flying into your hands.  I was so moved by that good fortune.”

“Don’t say mean things!  Honestly, this is the girl who’s always been by my side!”

Anastasia retorted to the androgynous voice, pursing her lips as she stepped forward.  Her feet led her to the bed—on top of which was a white fox scarf.  It was something Anastasia always wore, and at first glance it looked like an ordinary piece of fur, but—

“More than the brilliance of the dragon jewel, you were attracted to his eyes as he spoke of his dreams.  So you tried every trick in the book to get him by your side…but in the end, it was all in vain.  Because he was the one who came to you.”

“—Echidna.  Are ya my ally?  Or are ya my enemy?”

Anastasia spoke sternly, and the fox scarf suddenly moved.  It abandoned its role as a scarf, jumped onto Anastasia’s outstretched hand, and gently placed itself against her cheek.

With pure white fur and black eyes, it was a fantastically beautiful fox.

“Of course, I’m your ally.  We’ve been friends for ten years.  There’s no need to ask now, right?”

“But despite that, don’t ya think ya don’t show enough affection for me?  I don’t deny Julius, but…this country will be the place where our contract will be fulfilled.  Don’t ya think so?”

“That’s right.  How much will you grow from that first opportunity you had as a child?  I want to see where your fingertips lead.  –Ah, that is my wish.”

Feeling an itchy sensation on her cheek, Anastasia narrowed her eyes at the fox’s voice.  There was a different kind of affection there that she didn’t show to Julius, Ricardo, or Mimi and her siblings.

“Well then, I’ll show ya.  The ultimate goal of my desire.  —Ta everyone, in a big way.”

The love of her family, the loyalty of her knight, and the promise made to her friend.

—Anastasia Hoshin licked her lips, her heart pounding with sweet greed.

[ladybugbirdie42]

Anastasia Camp Formation Story Translation Pt 10

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10

“Oh!  You beat the Captain?  Amazing!  How was it?  How was it?”

“I’m happy to receive praise, but he went easy on me.  In the first place, he had been drinking before I challenged him.  I can’t say he was in top condition.”

After pushing past the gatekeeper and stepping confidently into the inn, he was greeted by three people who seemed to have been waiting for him to arrive.  They were Mimi, Hetaro, and Tivey, the three siblings.

They all praised him for defeating Ricardo who had stood in his way, but Julius could not agree with them.  Ricardo’s consideration was obvious to Julius who had faced him.

The fact that they bumped fists together was probably just to save appearances.

“I take it that he set things up for me.  That he deliberately played the villain in order to create an opportunity for us to talk.”

“In that case, should we be villains as well?”

Hetaro asked, pointing to the door at the end of the corridor behind him.  At the question, Julius closed one eye,

“What did Lady Anastasia tell you?”

“Like with the Captain, she said not to let anyone through.  But…”

“The lady’s made such a troublesome decision!  I think, even no can mean yes!”

“I’ll have to find out later who taught my sister that phrase.”

Hetaro nodded repeatedly in response to Tivey’s sigh.  Mimi was completely unaware of her two younger brothers’ overprotective behavior, but, in any case, he understood their opinion.  Just like Ricardo,

“It seems you three will also allow me a chance to speak with her.”

“If the lady is acting up, we won’t be able to do our jobs either.”

With no other choice, Tivey gave way to Julius.  Mimi followed suit, and Hetaro followed after.  Julius smiled at the path the three siblings had made.

“I don’t really get it, but I think it would be good to make the lady laugh!  I thought that!”

“—Then, I’ll try to live up to those expectations.”

Mimi gave him a thumbs up and pushed him towards the room at the end of the hall.  As he stood in front of the door, he took a deep breath,

“Lady Anastasia, I apologize for bothering you so late.  It’s Julius Juukulius.  I have come to speak with you.  If you could please spare me a moment—”

“—N-no.  Ya can’t.  I’ve already closed up shop for today.”

There was a reply.  He knocked on the door and called out, and from the other side of the door came a faint, high-pitched reply.

Julius’s cheeks stiffened at the rejection.  If it were his usual self, he would have left the place with some nice words and decided to take the time to repair their relationship.

However, the words Joshua had spoken to him gave Julius the strength he needed.

“In that case, please excuse my rudeness and continue listening where you are.  I would like to make a correction to what I said earlier.  —I have retracted my recommendation for the Sword Saint to be Lady Anastasia’s knight.”

“——”

He could feel a slight sense of her holding her breath through the door.  Closing his eyes, Julius recalled the face of the friend he had asked to meet earlier.  He had spoken passionately for several hours and then took back what he had said that same day.  His friend never got angry at his extremely dishonest words and actions.

However, as they parted ways, Reinhard smiled sadly and said,

“I congratulate you for wanting to offer up your sword.  I wonder if I too could yearn with such passion.”

Julius nodded in response to his friend’s murmur that seemed as if he felt he was wishing too much for himself.

“Of course you will.  You too will definitely find a master to whom you can dedicate your sword.  –For a hero, that will certainly happen.”

Did that sound arrogant?  But, Reinhard sent him off with a smile.  He’d like to think that his feelings were conveyed.

“—Why?”

A sudden question brought Julius, who was lost in thought, back to reality.  A voice came from the door, asking Julius his true intentions in declining the cooperation of the Sword Saint.

This was it.  Here, he must not make any mistakes with his words.  He must speak his own feelings correctly.

 “Lady Anastasia, it was none other than I who recommended you for the royal selection.  I am responsible for leading you into this harsh battle.  It is my responsibility to prepare everything in advance, to help and support you as much as possible.”

“Well, wasn’t the Sword Saint the way ya took responsibility?  Julius was tryin’ ta fulfill his responsibilities.  I’m not doubtin’ that, ya know?”

“—No, that’s not true.  I told you.  I have a responsibility to prepare everything in advance, to help and support you as much as possible.  Therefore, I want you to have the best knight in the kingdom by your side.”

Not understanding, she became perplexed.  She had no idea what Julius was trying to say.  Of course.  Julius himself knew that what he was about to say was preposterous.

However, this was the only option.  Suppressing his hesitation, Julius puffed out his chest and spoke.

“I am Julius Juukulius, a member of the royal guard of the Kingdom of Lugunica.  I humbly bear the title of ‘Finest’ as an honor of the knights—I am the kingdom’s best knight who will serve you.”

He stated it decisively.  Immediately after saying this, Julius felt his body heat up.

At the same time as that heat, a change occurred in front of his eyes.  The closed door slid open, revealing the person standing on the other side.

“——”

Seeing the petite woman, Julius knelt respectfully and gracefully.  After observing his movements, she let out a long, deep sigh, and then,

“…That’s a really big boast.  Sayin’ you’re the best knight in the kingdom, even surpassin’ the Sword Saint.  That’s definitely not somethin’ ya would ever say.”

“My younger brother gave me the push I needed.  Even now, my legs still tremble at my own boastful words.”

“Then, will ya correct it?”

“No.  —It would be completely unreasonable for the first knight of the one who stands at the top of the kingdom to be anyone other than the best knight in the kingdom.  Therefore, I hereby pledge my loyalty and sword to you.”

“I haven’t even said anythin’ about makin’ ya my knight yet; you’re so impatient, Julius.”

Putting her hand over her mouth and seeming to have regained her usual composure, the woman—Anastasia—laughed.  Looking up at her smile, Julius quietly waited for her next words.

Anastasia also knew what he was waiting for.  So she gently extended her pale, delicate fingers in his direction.

“—It feels surprisingly heavy.”

Taking the knight sword that Julius offered in her outstretched hand, Anastasia muttered this.

The slender knight sword was a sword that had been passed down in the Juukulius family.  It was not a particularly famous sword, but the sword that had been passed down for generations had weight beyond the weight of lifting it.

“It’s the pride of a knight.”

“And then, proof of loyalty…did I get that right?  It’s hard ta handle things ya can’t see.  If this is a favor, then I’d be very happy if it didn’t have a price tag.”

Anastasia stuck out her tongue playfully and then tightened her cheeks.

And as soon as she became serious, her cuteness disappeared, and she began to emit a radiance that was simply captivating.

It was Anastasia’s own radiance that had captivated Julius even before the dragon jewel had shined in her palm.

“——”

Though she was not used to it, Anastasia slowly unsheathed the sword.

It was a blade that he must have seen thousands of times, but to Julius now it looked special.  Leaving traces of that silver color on his eyelids, Julius closed his eyes and bowed his head.

Anastasia pointed the blade of the drawn sword at the kneeling Julius.  She tilted the blade, and the flat of the sword hit Julius’s left shoulder, then his right shoulder.

—The ceremonial procedures for knighting are a widely known custom in the kingdom.

A knight is supposed to receive this knighting ceremony twice in his lifetime.

The first time is when a person who aspires to be a knight comes of age and is recognized as a knight by the head of their family or a superior.

The second time is when they choose a person as their final master and are allowed to serve them.

In some cases, a third or subsequent time may occur, but this is considered shameful for a knight.  This is because, in whatever form, it is synonymous with losing a master.

Therefore, being knighted a second time is equivalent to the biggest decision of a knight’s life.

If only Anastasia, holding the sword in her hands, could also realize the meaning of offering it.

“So now, Julius…Julius is my knight.  Ya can’t take it back, ya know?”

“The same goes for you, Lady Anastasia.  Now that I have become your knight, what you said about giving up your right to participate in the royal selection…”

“Ah, that?  That was just a joke.  I wasn’t serious, honestly.”

“What?”

Julius, who had thought that his first suggestion in their master-servant relationship would be for Anastasia to retract her statement, was stunned by how nonchalantly Anastasia spoke.

Glancing at Julius’s reaction, Anastasia looked up in his direction,

“If I hadn’t said that, things wouldn’t have turned out the way they are now, right?  I needed ta make sure that ya would desperately come and carry me.”

“That’s…But even in that case, you could have received Reinhard’s help.  What exactly is it about him that displeases you, Lady Anastasia…?”

“Yes, wait!  I never answered that question.  So it’s completely forbidden from now on!  That’s enough now.  My knight is Julius!  That’s settled!  The contract!  Is sealed!”

Holding out her palm, Anastasia closed the door on Julius’s question, shutting it down completely.  Overwhelmed by the force of her rapid-fire speech, Julius swallowed his words.

He had just sworn his knightly oath.  After taking that oath here, he shouldn’t go against the words of the woman who had become his master so soon.

“——”

Telling himself this, Julius finally realized the truth, albeit belatedly.

He had offered his sword to his ideal partner, took an oath as a knight, and they had become master and servant.

“Julius?”

“Now, although it’s too late, I am astonished at my own actions.  I proclaimed myself to be the best knight in the kingdom, and then forced a knight’s oath on Lady Anastasia and made a pact of master and servant.”

“Ah, true, that may not have been like ya, Julius.”

He felt embarrassed that his shameful behavior had been so obvious.  However, in response to Julius’s reflection, Anastasia continued with a “But”,

“I’m happy that ya chased after me so desperately, ya know?”

“It’s a relief for me to hear you say that.”

“Yes, yes, isn’t that right?  I’ve been sayin’ this for a long time, but I’m kind ta my people.  I’ll also take good care of Julius, who has become my knight, so remember that.”

Anastasia was in high spirits, and Julius touched his bangs with his fingers.  He felt embarrassed, perhaps because he was aware that he lacked grace.

More than that, it may have been because of the feeling he had gained as a knight that burned brightly in his heart.

“And then, since Julius and I are now truly in the same boat…it’s time ta close for today.”

“So you say.”

“There are so many discussions we missed today, right?  I need ta recover my energy for that.  It’s gonna be busy from tomorrow onwards.”

For Anastasia, that seemed like a very leisurely way of saying things.  “Time and money have the same value” was Kararagi’s way of thinking, and in keeping with that, it was an uncharacteristic way of speaking for Anastasia.

Anastasia looked at Julius with a smile like a blooming flower,

“Even if we don’t hurry, there’s always tomorrow.  –Right?  My best knight in the kingdom.”

“—That’s right.  Tomorrow, and the day after, and for the rest of my life.”

He nodded at Anastasia’s words, placed his hand on his chest, and bowed.

“Good night, Lady Anastasia.  Please, have pleasant dreams.”

“Mm, thank ya.  Ya can dream about me, Julius.”

“That’s a very attractive proposition.”

Julius smiled at Anastasia who waved back at him, then turned his back on her.  He walked down the corridor and headed towards the entrance of the inn.  There he found Mimi and her siblings as well as Ricardo.

He raised his hand to them.  From this moment on, they and Julius were brethren.

Together, they would support Anastasia and become comrades who would do everything in their power for her.

“What’s that, ya got a good look on yer face.”

“Oh, that’s right!  You got a good look on your face!”

Ricardo bared his teeth and laughed, and Mimi imitated him.  He saw Hetaro and Tivey laughing as well, and Julius laughed too.

It was an awfully pleasant feeling.

“—I have been bestowed the greatest honor in the world by a wonderful woman.”

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[ladybugbirdie42]

Anastasia Camp Formation Story Translation Pt 9

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9

“—I’m goin’ ta sleep tonight.  Don’t let anyone through.”

When Anastasia returned to the inn, her attitude sent a strong chill down Ricardo’s spine, and he shivered.

He silently watched as she headed towards her room, leaving only a short message behind.  He could hear the sound of the door being closed rather roughly, and Ricardo made a gesture as if wiping the sweat from his forehead.  

“Oh, scary.  What’s with that attitude…  Mimi, what happened?”

“No idea!  The lady just burst out of nowhere!  Mimi was curled up on the lady’s lap so it was really scary!  Everything else is a mystery!”

Ricardo scratched his dark brown head at the unreliable Mimi.  Thinking there was little hope, he glanced over at Hetaro and Tivey who had returned with her, but they also shook their heads awkwardly.

“Y’all don’t even know why the lady is in such a bad mood?  That’s troublin’.  It’s rare for her to get so angry even when a business deal isn’t goin’ well.”

Sighing with his fanged mouth, Ricardo stroked his thick chest with his palm.  From his chest to his stomach, his entire body was covered in dark brown fur—he was a dog-man demi-human.  He was the leader of the Iron Fang, and the mood of his employer, Anastasia, was quite a source of worry.

—Ricardo and Anastasia had known each other for a long time.  About fifteen years now.

Their first meeting dated back to when Anastasia was a dirty homeless girl.  Even at a young age, she had possessed extraordinary eyes, and it had been Ricardo who had cleaned her up and introduced her to work as a maid at a company.

Their relationship had continued ever since, and now he found himself in a situation like this.  Life is full of twists and turns.  –Especially as someone who knew the current situation Anastasia found herself in.

“Otherwise, my dream would be whether the lady and ya could become proper wives.  The lady scares men away, and ya…what, can ya get married?”

“Married?  Don’t know, but it’s best to assume that things will work out somehow!  That’s it!”

“You’re havin’ a good time…  Hey, Hetaro, don’t glare at me like that.  It’s not somethin’ we need ta talk about right now.  Why don’t ya leave yer sister for a bit?”

“Captain, that’s like telling me to die…”

“That’s too much of an exaggeration!”

Younger children have no idea about the sorrow of those who are older.

As Ricardo lamented this, he suddenly noticed Tivey, who had left the conversation and had a troubled look on his face.  He was fiddling with the monocle on his left eye and seemed to be in the middle of deep thought.

“What’s the matter, Tivey?  Is there somethin’ botherin’ ya?”

“I was just thinking.  I’m also choosing a place of business to establish the trading company in the Kingdom of Lugunica.  It would be troublesome if the lady were to withdraw…”

“Withdraw?  Why would she do that?  That’s not like the lady.”

Ricardo laughed away his worries with his mouth wide open, while Tivey turned back to him with a serious expression on his face,

“On the way back in the dragon carriage, the lady was grumbling.  If she was serious…agh!”

“Ya idiot, how can she be serious?  Besides, ya saw the look on her face when she came out here, didn’t ya?  There’s no way that lady would just quietly run away with her tail tucked between her legs.”

Poking Tivey’s overthinking head with his finger, Ricardo waggled his tail vigorously.

The Hoshin Company’s expansion into the Kingdom of Lugunica—this was supposed to be a new business plan put forward by Anastasia, but now it had transformed into merely one of the goals.

Ricardo clearly remembered the appearance of Anastasia on the day she had brought back the greed she desired for this kingdom.  –That was Anastasia Hoshin.

“With a face that sparkles like that, how is it possible that greedy girl would give up?”

That was the look Anastasia made when she found something she truly desired.

It was the face she’d shown when she’d coveted the company, the three siblings, Roshi’s life, and Ricardo.

So, Anastasia had once again found something she craved in this kingdom.

“She’ll do whatever it takes to get it.  Just like when she took over the company from Chuden.”

“Vice President Chuden seems to be satisfied with his current position, though…”

“That guy has a difficult personality.  I can’t really say anythin’ about other people, though.”

Ricardo tilted his head as he recalled the squinty-eyed man he had known for a long time.

In any case, Anastasia had done everything well since they’d first met.

So her attitude had remained the same until now and likely wouldn’t change in the future.

“So the reason you’re in a bad mood is because ya were turned away from somethin’ ya wanted.”

As he remembered the reason for her rarely seen bad mood, the corner of Ricardo’s mouth twisted.

In the past, when she was a child, Anastasia used to sulk more often than she did now.

It was when Ricardo easily evaded her, when the three siblings didn’t listen to her as she wanted, when Chuden left her confused in the negotiations over the representation rights of the company—

“—In other words, she’s in the middle of her evil scheme.  What do ya think?”

“Unfortunately, even if I join the conversation halfway through, I can only say that I cannot give a thoughtless answer.”

“That’s a strange way ta answer.  Like the lady.”

Contrary to his words, Ricardo shook off his knees with a look of amusement on his face.  As he slowly rose to his feet, he found himself a head taller than the good-looking man who had appeared in front of the inn.

Thus, the number of times he’d met him face to face could be counted on one hand, but—

“I hadn’t noticed, but I guess that one was actually quite concerned about appearances.”

“—?  Sorry, but I don’t see what you are saying again.  Also, it is hard to give up on our conversation, but there is something else I need to prioritize right now.  Would it be okay if you let me through?”

“Sure…is what I’d like ta say, but I guess that’s not possible.”

He made a show of giving way first, then blocked the way.  The man frowned at Ricardo’s childish harassment, while Ricardo gestured to Mimi and the others.

“I’ll deal with the customer.  Y’all go and tell the lady that a customer has come.  If she stays like that, she’ll probably say ta get rid of him, though.”

“Ah, she said not to let anyone through!  Mimi has amazing memory skills!”

“Right?  So my role is decided.”

“Aye, aye!  Then, Captain and Julius, do your best!”

Mimi straightened up and recited her employer’s orders, and he stroked her head with his large palm.  Mimi shook her head in delight, then took her two younger brother’s hands and ran into the inn.

Seeing them leave with a smile, Ricardo then rotated his shoulders.  And then,

“I take it you are planning to turn me away?”

“That’s what the lady ordered me ta do.  The hard part about bein’ a mercenary is that ya can’t go against yer employer.  Well, even without that, I’d still be in the way tonight.”

“——”

The good-looking man narrowed his eyes.  Tension grew in his limbs, and the air became tense at the same time.

Although he may appear to be a gentleman on the outside, what was hidden within was formidable—

“Usin’ a blade on the streets of the Flower Capital would be a big problem.  So…I’ll make ya leave for today with my fists.”

“I see.  I didn’t expect to be welcomed warmly, but I didn’t expect it to be to this extent.  –However.”

The weight difference between the thick, massive man and the young man was more than double.  Naturally, if they fought barehanded, it was obvious who would have the advantage—but even so, the young man laughed.

He removed the white cloak of his uniform and the knight sword attached to his waist, along with its sheath.  Then, becoming lighter, he raised both his slender, supple arms and took a stance.

“Without a sword, I can easily defeat you.  It’s disappointing that you think that.”

“…What d’ya know, I’m surprised.”

Seeing his bare-handed refusal to back down, Ricardo sighed in amazement for a moment.

Although he thought he had judged him to be a force to be reckoned with, it seemed he was still underestimating him as just a “knight”.

“——”

In front of him, what emerged was an unyielding spirit and a strong sense of pride honed though tireless training.

It was arrogant of him to think that he would be at a huge disadvantage if they fought barehanded.

“Li’l Ana bein’ all about looks isn’t somethin’ I can laugh at.”

He growled ferociously, his mouth twisting viciously, but there was a sense of relief in what he muttered.

Inside, he couldn’t stop laughing.  He felt like slapping his knee at what he had just muttered.

—He had seen great potential in the young Anastasia, yet he had foolishly misjudged the young man in front of him.

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[ladybugbirdie42]

Anastasia Camp Formation Story Translation Pt 8

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8

In the reception room of the mansion, which seemed as if a storm had passed, Julius was reflecting on recent events.

—Just what kind of mistake had he made?

“I intended to do everything possible to accommodate Lady Anastasia, but…”

Immediately after he’d told her his brilliant idea, Anastasia’s transformation had been astonishing.  Her smile had looked exactly the same as usual, but the intimidating aura she’d carried was on a completely different level.

Even Mimi, although trembling, had obeyed when Anastasia said they were going home.

“Brother, I have seen Lady Anastasia and the others to the inn…”

Just then, Joshua returned after seeing the guests off to the inn.  Julius tilted his chin in response to his bewildered younger brother’s report,

“I see, that was a lot of trouble.  Sorry to have you do that on my behalf.”

“No, I’m fine.  More importantly, are you okay, Brother?”

Julius failed to smile at the concerned gaze.  Deep down, he was still very shaken.  It didn’t seem that it would be easy to fix.

“But we can’t just leave the relationship as it is.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to give it time for things to calm down?”

“That is one solution, but in this case it is difficult to say it is the best solution.  What if Lady Anastasia were to make the decision alone and give up her right to participate?”

Of course, it was hard to imagine that the intelligent Anastasia would act so rashly, but there are times when anyone cannot remain calm.  He was aware that he had robbed her of her composure.  He wanted to do everything he could to find a solution.

However, Joshua’s gentle face showed a look of confusion at Julius’s decision.

“What’s wrong?”

“Maybe I’m being weird, but…Brother, you’re against Lady Anastasia handing over her royal selection eligibility to someone else, aren’t you?”

“Of course.  That goes for you as well, doesn’t it, Joshua?”

“Yes, that is true…I am of the opinion that the prophecies of the Dragon Stone should not be taken lightly…but isn’t it different for you, Brother?”

Julius couldn’t think of anything to answer Joshua’s question and his well-formed eyebrows furrowed.  Joshua himself was frustrated that he couldn’t put it into words and kept repeating “Um”.

“Brother, you recommended Lady Anastasia to the Royal Selection.  And for her sake, you even tried to get Reinhard to cooperate as a knight.  Why is that?”

“—?  Isn’t it natural?  I found Lady Anastasia’s qualifications and recommended her for the Royal Selection.  It is my duty to do everything I can to ensure that she is in the best possible condition.”

“So, it was a sense of duty that made you do all this.  It wasn’t about whether or not Lady Anastasia was worthy of the throne; it was about your role…”

“That’s not true.  —I thought that Lady Anastasia was worthy of the throne.  I even thought about offering my sword to her.  That’s why I want to do everything I can for her.”

Naturally, this was the true feeling that came pouring out from Julius’s heart.

Of course, Julius had not come to this conclusion simply because the Dragon Jewel had shined.

The light of the Dragon Jewel was just a catalyst.  It only showed that she was qualified.

Everything that had happened afterwards was the result of Julius having seized that opportunity and following his own heart.

Revealing that the throne was vacant and worried about the kingdom’s bleak future, Julius asked her to join the candidates in the Royal Selection in order to make the prophecy of the Dragon Stone come true.

What had Anastasia said to Julius?

The words she had spoken without the slightest fear—Julius remembered them all.

“—She laughed.  She said her fingers were touching her dream.  She was overwhelmed by the size of it.”

Before the Dragon Jewel’s light had stolen the conversation, Anastasia had told him her story.

Born and raised in the lowest class of Kararagi, she had started as a servant at a company and worked her way up to where she is today.  It was the result of desperate efforts.  Her ambitions easily lead her to surpass her own limits.

The girl who had been born with nothing, who had not let go of anything she had gained along the way, now appeared before him boldly, holding everything she had grasped.

There, Julius saw Anastasia Hoshin’s royal vessel.

—Everything, including the light of the Dragon Jewel, was merely a “bonus” that came afterwards.

 “I want to offer my sword without turning away from my path, my pride, or my loyalty.  I saw that in Lady Anastasia.”

“——”

“I was fascinated by her rapid progress.  I was eager to witness it.”

To that end, he had intended to cooperate as much as possible.

“Apparently, it seems I was dumped by Lady Anastasia.”

Saying that like a cheap joke, Julius felt his body become extremely heavy.  It seemed that this truth had caused him more pain than he had expected.

At the very least, from now on, he would support Anastasia from behind the scenes—

“…Um, Brother, there’s something I’d like to say.”

“What is it?”

“Brother, you often say that I underestimate myself too much…but I don’t think that you can say that about other people.”

Joshua’s sudden statement made Julius stare in surprise.  Joshua gave a wry smile at his brother’s surprise and continued playing with his long bangs.

“You’re overthinking it, Brother.  I get that.  I understand that you chose the person you thought was the most reliable for Lady Anastasia’s sake.  I get that, but let me say this.  That’s a big misunderstanding!  You’re wrong!”

“I’m wrong?  But, Reinhard is the best knight in the kingdom…”

“No, that’s not true!  Because the best knight in the kingdom is you, Brother!!  There is no knight greater than the ‘Finest of Knights’ Julius Juukulius!  That is the conclusion!”

Joshua, his face reddening as he made sweeping gestures, spoke passionately to Julius.  Julius was thrown aback by his younger brother’s enthusiasm, and blinked repeatedly in surprise.

He had never seen Joshua express his feelings so forcefully before.  Julius was shaken by this, but Joshua continued to press on.

“If the best knight in the kingdom is the ‘Finest of Knights’ Julius Juukulius, then what should you do, Brother?  You need the best knight to serve Lady Anastasia.”

“——”

“I have heard your thoughts, Brother.  As the Juukulius family, it will be quite difficult to support a person from another country as a candidate for the Royal Selection.  We can probably expect a great deal of opposition, but…we’ll deal with it somehow!”

“Somehow…  That’s not like you, Joshua; that’s a very careless opinion.”

“Right now, I will do whatever it takes to get things done.  I don’t want to see you staying in the shadows for Lady Anastasia’s sake.  That wouldn’t be elegant at all.”

“——”

Joshua’s pleading words pierced his heart.

This may sound ridiculous or cheap.  However—

“—That’s a big deal.”

To tarnish appearances, to lack grace, would go against the chivalry that Julius believed in.

Joshua knew this better than anyone, so he used it to his advantage to persuade him.

That was the origin of Julius Juukulius, whom many people praise as the “Finest of Knights”.  —It was a fundamental principle that must never be compromised.

“Brother’s wish is to support Lady Anastasia on her path to become king.  To achieve that, what’s needed is the best knight in the kingdom, so there’s no problem!”

“What I wanted to do and what I need to achieve it came together.  …It feels a bit like a forced effort, but can this be called elegant?”

“Everything you do seems elegant to me, Brother.”

“That’s an overly biased opinion.  —But, I’m grateful, Joshua.”

Being persuaded by such uncharacteristic passion, Julius closed his eyes.  Behind his closed eyes, he could see the image of Anastasia listening to Julius’s explanation with the glowing Dragon Jewel in her palm.

He could see her expression and eyes gradually blossoming as if bathed in light.

“I don’t know why Lady Anastasia is upset.  But at the very least, I have not yet conveyed my words.  I would find it unbearable to have this all come to an end before that happens.”

“In that case…!”

Joshua’s eyes lit up with anticipation, and Julius turned his gaze to the magic crystal in the room.  Julius’s eyes, the same color as the crystal, were reflected in its pale yellow glow.

—It still wasn’t too late to visit a woman at night.

Next

[ladybugbirdie42]

[ladybugbirdie42]

Anastasia Camp Formation Story Translation Pt 7

First | Previous

7

“——”

As he took a sip of the tea he had ordered the waitress to bring him, the rich aroma tickled his nostrils.  The warm aroma made Julius let out a sigh of relief and his mind regained its composure.

The tea that had been brought was Julius’s favorite brand.

When facing an important conversation, he relied on the power of tea to help him prepare himself.  The servants who have known him for a long time know this and will take care of things like this without him having to say a word.

Considering that, although meeting at home was unexpected, it could also be said to have been the right decision.

At the very least, he could feel supported by those around him as he entered into the conversation.

Be that as it may—

“Joshua, if you’re not feeling well, you can go back to your room…”

“N-no, not at all.  If I’m not able to be here, it will have a much bigger impact on me later.  I’ll try not to get in the way, so please keep me by your side.”

Joshua, his face pale, shook his head in a panic.  His younger brother was originally fair-skinned, but now the blood had drained from his face and he looked pale.  He didn’t want to push him too hard, though.

 “——”

“…I understand.  Just make sure you don’t push yourself too hard.  Make your own decisions.”

Julius gave in to Joshua’s silent plea and accepted his wishes.  He thought it was lenient, but he understood his feelings.  He didn’t want to be left out of such an important national event because of poor health.

Anastasia chuckled at the brothers’ conversation.  In front of her, Mimi was curled up in her lap, and while stroking Mimi’s head, she said,

“Don’t push Joshua too hard.  …Though it might not be very persuasive comin’ from me, the one who exhausted Joshua the most.”

“You did nothing wrong, Lady Anastasia.  I left the house to Joshua while I was away.  Entertaining guests is one of his duties.  Besides—”

“Besides?”

“Maybe you were going easy on him?  Joshua hasn’t collapsed.”

“——.  Hehe, ahahaha!  What’s with that, Julius?  That’s too funny.”

For a moment Anastasia looked taken aback and then burst out laughing, unable to bear it any longer.

Seeing that smile, Julius lowered his chin in satisfaction.  However, Joshua next to him was stunned at being used as a conversation starter.  Julius shrugged at his younger brother’s reaction.

“You stayed of your own volition, Joshua.”

“I-I know that, Brother…!”

To Joshua’s flustered voice, Julius replied briefly, “That’s fine.”  Anastasia, watching this, tilted her head slightly,

“That’s right.  It’s obvious, but Julius also speaks casually when talkin’ to his family.  It felt a bit refreshin’ to hear it from ya.”

“That may be true.  I apologize if it was hard to hear.”

“I said it was refreshin’, so there’s no need ta apologize.  If ya can talk to me without bein’ too formal, that’s much more welcome.  Do I look like I wanna have a formal conversation?”

Anastasia tilted her head, Mimi on her lap, and Hetaro and Tivey on either side.  Seeing how cute the scene was, Julius also smiled,

“By the way, I forgot to ask, but what are Mimi and the others wearing?”

“They’re so cute, ain’t they?  It’s unbearable, isn’t it?”

“I agree with you about Mimi, but I do feel a bit sorry for the other two.”

“Really?  Hmm, I guess it can’t be helped…”

Judging from her response that there was no deeper meaning behind it, Julius defended Hetaro and Tivey with a few words.  Anastasia thought about his advice for a bit and then,

“Okay.  Ya two can go get changed.  There are new robes with the Ligers.”

“What, really?  What a relief, I’m off!”

“I felt like I was not alive.  Julius, I’m indebted to you.”

Their faces brightened as Hetaro and Tivey ran out of the reception room.  Their skirts fluttered briskly as they ran through the room with light steps.

That was how much cross-dressing had affected them.  Even if it suited them, the humiliation was probably a different story.

“Lady Anastasia, please don’t play around too much.  Your position is…”

“Different from before?  Maybe.  But even if my position changes, I won’t change.  Otherwise, there’s no point.  Right?”

“——”

Her smile remained the same, but Anastasia spoke with a different tone of voice.  Julius felt as if her words had struck him in the heart, and he choked slightly.

The atmosphere changed.  The room, the mansion—no, the world around Anastasia.

“I had a lot of fun talkin’ with Joshua until Julius returned, but…it’s about time we got ta the important main topic.”

“The main topic.”

“The outlook for the Royal Selection in the future, how we should face the Royal Selection in the first place…those kinds of things.”

The one who swallowed, was it him, or was it Joshua next to him?

Julius, completely captivated by the woman, licked his lips to avoid being entangled in the gradually increasing pressure.  Then, he stared back into Anastasia’s light blue eyes.

Since she was bringing up the topic, Anastasia must have already had a plan in mind.  To what extent that plan overlapped with Julius’s wishes, he wanted to know first of all.

“Future prospects…May I ask what your wishes are for the Royal Selection, Lady Anastasia?”

“For me, winnin’ the Royal Selection and gettin’ the country…that would be the best outcome.  With the kingdom on my scales, I’m interested ta see what will happen.  But…”

Cutting off her words there, Anastasia closed one of her round eyes, and continued.

“I hate losin’ battles.  I’d rather not fight than lose.  So I thought changin’ the conditions for victory entirely might be an option.”

“Changing the conditions for victory…?  What do you mean by that?”

“It’s a simple matter.  For example, how about handin’ over victory in the Royal Selection ta another candidate?  If it would safely reduce the number of competitors, that would be tasty enough, right? Wouldn’t it be profitable ta make a deal with another candidate usin’ that as a condition and pull out somethin’ good?”

“—!  That is a huge disregard for the kingdom’s prestige!”

Joshua lashed out at Anastasia, who was smiling with her hands clasped in front of her chest.  Julius was of the same opinion as the red-faced Joshua; he was just late.

Selling the right to the throne.  That was unacceptable.  However—

“That’s what ya say, Joshua, but I’m from a different country.  I don’t have the backin’ of the kingdom, and my competitors are a duchess and a princess with special circumstances…What are my chances of winnin’?”

“Th-that’s…”

“Besides, ya mentioned the kingdom’s prestige, but the Dragon Jewel chose me, who’s from Kararagi.  At that point, the kingdom’s prestige had practically fallen to the ground.”

“——”

Stammering, Joshua glanced his way out of the corner of his eye, but Julius closed his eyes.

Anastasia’s words were realistic.  She was by no means blessed with prerequisites.

In the first place, the reason Anastasia had put her name forward for the Royal Selection was because she had accidentally found out that she had the qualifications to be a Dragon Maiden, which was the qualification to participate.  Not being too attached to that qualification, nor being too hung up on a right that came out of nowhere, could also be said to be a natural compromise for a merchant.

“The turf war in Kararagi had reached a stalemate, so I welcomed the opportunity ta expand our market ta other countries.  That’s why I accepted the invitation, but…to think that I would actually be qualified ta become the king of the country I was invited to was like a dream.”

“It’s not a dream; it’s reality.”

“Let’s turn that reality into a more realistic profit.  Is what I’m sayin’ really that strange?”

Julius looked away after hearing Anastasia’s words.  Heat began to swirl in his chest.

He remembered the moment when she had touched the insignia and the Dragon Jewel shined.  At that moment, Julius had been confused by the unexpected gift he had received—and at the same time, he had felt an irresistible sensation as if he was being swept away by a great wave.

Before he’d known it, Julius had been on one knee on the floor, asking Anastasia to participate in the Royal Selection.  Even now, he still didn’t think he was wrong to have followed that impulse.

“But, was it too much of a burden to you, Lady Anastasia?”

“I’m not talkin’ about whether it’s a burden or not.  For me, it’s like I’ve found somethin’, and the question is how ta use it in the most profitable way.  If I win, that’s the best outcome.  But if I think about what happens if I lose, there must be a smarter way ta do it.”

Anastasia intentionally forced a rather undignified smile onto her pretty face.  It was a slightly provocative move, but Julius felt relieved that she had assured him that it was not a burden.

The rights she had gained, the path of light that had opened up before Julius, she wanted to discuss how to handle it.

Julius lowered his eyes slightly.  Anastasia’s eyes narrowed at his reaction, and she cleared her throat.  “Ahem.”  Then she spoke in a haughty manner,

“Well, ya see.  I said it like that, but it’s not like I absolutely don’t wanna compete, ya know?  It’s true that I want a country, and I don’t dislike big challenges.  But in that case, I’d like ta ask a bit more from Julius…”

“Lady Anastasia, I have something to tell you regarding that matter.”

“—?”

Anastasia stopped speaking and raised her eyebrows as Julius replied deeply.

However, perhaps sensing something unusual in the knight’s serious gaze, she licked her lips,

“Well, I’d like ta think it’s somethin’ good.”

She chuckled.  Julius nodded in response.

“I understand where your concerns lay, Lady Anastasia.  As you said, being from another country and the fact that the Hoshin Trading Company is not yet firmly established in the kingdom will not be beneficial in the Royal Selection process.  However.”

“Have ya come up with a way ta deal with that?”

“Yes.  —I took the time until the evening to do that.”

It was entirely predictable that these topics would come up as a cause for concern during the discussion.

Julius was also the one who had recommended Anastasia for the Royal Selection.  It was Julius who had first recognized her qualifications and suggested that she had the talent to join the Royal Selection.

Therefore, he had a duty to overcome all obstacles and do his best for Anastasia as much as possible.

“So, what have ya done for me in that time?”

“Right.  Please be happy.”

Julius was also distracted by the good news he was delivering to Anastasia, who looked full of expectation.

Julius placed his hand on his chest and bowed respectfully as he spoke solemnly.

“—I have approached the kingdom’s greatest knight, the Sword Saint Reinhard van Astrea, to become Lady Anastasia’s knight.  He has responded favorably, saying he would like to meet in person.”

Even if the fact that she was a foreigner couldn’t be changed, she could still establish a foothold in the kingdom—especially in terms of finding backing.

If that person was from the famous family line in the kingdom’s history known as the Sword Saints, then there couldn’t be any greater power.

That was the greatest help Julius could give to Anastasia.

And, upon hearing Julius’s report, Anastasia also broke out into a broad smile—

“—I’m goin’ back ta my country!”

For some reason, she was in a very bad mood.

Next

[ladybugbirdie42]

Frederica: How should I put it, it's a strange combination...

Julius: Yes, that's true. We don't often meet in person in the main story, but since this is a rare opportunity, I hope we can deepen our friendship while fulfilling our duties.

Frederica: Well, what a gentleman... But even so, although we are characters in this volume, what commonality do Master Julius and I have...?

Julius: Perhaps it's because we're two people who both have younger brothers to be proud of.

Frederica: We are both people who have younger brothers to be proud of?

Julius: Yes. If I may be so bold as to say, I think that through this book, both myself and Miss Frederica have reaffirmed the bond of family. That means that the theme is the same.

Frederica: I see...but saying my younger brother Garf is someone to be proud of is...

Julius: Is that so? In that case, can I devote some space to talking about my younger brother Joshua?

Frederica: T-that's a whole different story! I mean, it's not like I can't talk about him, just that there are a lot of things to be careful about, not just things to brag about.

Julius: That's good. I'd also like to be friends with Garfiel.

Frederica: I don't know if Garf and Master Julius will get along, but...before I can grant that wish, I must first fulfill my role.

Julius: That's right. Well, first of all, a preview of the next volume... The next volume of the main story of Re:ZERO: Starting Life in Another World, volume 36, is scheduled to be released in December.

Frederica: Coincidentally, it will be a continuation of the Empire arc, which both I and Master Julius are involved in. In this collection of short stories, there was a story about Master Subaru struggling in the Empire.

Julius: Even though he is shrinking in stature, he is true to himself. How do we help him and ward off the danger that has befallen the Empire? I think that both myself and Miss Frederica are being tested in our true worth.

Frederica: As for me, I would like to show my true worth in the ongoing "Emilia's Birthday Life" event this year. I am a maid, after all.

Julius: That is certainly true. But, it's Lady Emilia's birthday, is it? I am pleased that it is being held in such a grand manner.

Frederica: Yes. It is well worth your support. Master Julius, as Lady Anastasia's knight, may feel a little uneasy about this, though.

Julius: No. It is better to respect your opponents. Lady Anastasia would say the same.

Frederica: ...I see that our opponents are some pretty incredible people.

Julius: I feel the same way. We ended up talking longer than I expected, so what do you think? Maybe we should move to a different place to brag about our younger brothers?

Frederica: Hehe, that's a nice invitation. --I hope that guy will be as considerate as you are.

[ladybugbirdie42]

anajuli to distract me from whatever the heck is going on with the astrea family

[ladybugbirdie42]

Anastasia Camp Formation Story Translation Pt 6

First | Previous

6

When he left the Silver Shield, the royal capital was already dyed orange by the sunset.

Spotting the setting sun over the Lugunica Royal Castle, Julius realized that he had been more engrossed in their discussion than he had thought.  His appointment with Anastasia was at night, but he didn’t have much time until sunset.  Having time to spare is important in anything.  Time to spare leads to appearances and elegance.  He hurried home.

Even if he was going to visit Anastasia, he couldn’t do so in the clothes he was wearing.

The uniform of the Royal Guard would be conspicuous on a personal occasion, and it would be rude to visit empty-handed.  Moreover, considering the importance of today’s discussion, he would have liked to bring at least some high-quality alcohol.

So, with his head full of thoughts, Julius returned home—

“—Welcome back!  We’ve been waiting so long!  That’s wrong!  We’ve been waiting for you!”

“——”

Julius’s thoughts were filled with confusion at the enthusiastic welcome he received at the gates of his home.

He was in front of the main gate of the Juukulius mansion in the noble district.  As Julius walked up the hill and returned to the mansion, he was greeted by a petite girl who cheerfully raised both hands.

She only reached Julius’s waist in height, and had distinctive orange cat ears and a tail.  Her round, curious eyes sparkled, and she was a cute, charming demi-human—a kitten girl.

However, such an impression aside, Julius had already met the girl before.  And not only the girl, but also the two kitten people on either side of her who looked very similar to her.

“Aside from Mimi, Hetaro and Tivey, what are you doing?”

“T-the lady said to greet you.  And then, my older sister dragged me along…”

“There’s no point in me resisting, so I just went along with it obediently.”

The ones who answered Julius’s puzzled expression were two boys, one with a sad expression and the other with eyes clouded with resignation.  The one with the sad expression was Hetaro, and the one with the clouded eyes was Tivey.

Between them, the only one who looked unusually happy was the girl named Mimi—

“I don’t mind you welcoming me, but may I ask about your attire?”

“Oh?  Weird?  Is it weird?  The lady and the other ladies at the mansion praised me so much!  Cute, they said I was cute!  I’m so embarrassed!”

“I won’t deny that you are cute.  Not only you, but your two younger brothers as well.”

“I-I don’t really need you to praise me for that…”

As Julius praised the proud Mimi, Hetaro’s eyes became teary and he complained about something.  However, his assessment was not a lie.  Julius pondered what to say other than a correction.

After all, Mimi and the other two were all wearing maid uniforms, the kind worn by waitresses.  In fact, the lengths of the uniforms were adjusted to fit the three petite kitten people.  He knew he shouldn’t say it, but it looked really good on all three of them.

He had to say, it was very charming, but—

“If you’re boys, is it too much to ask that you have a certain level of common sense?”

“Do you think we dressed like this willingly, Julius?”

“I had hoped that this would not be the case.  It seems my wish has been granted, so I am glad.  This means… Lady Anastasia and Mimi are the problem it seems.”

Having immediately pinpointed the ringleaders, Julius shook his head in exasperation.

He didn’t like to interfere too much in personal tastes and preferences, but from now on, Anastasia would be in a more important position than ever.  It would be necessary to be careful not to act rashly.

In particular, they must exercise strict self-restraint when it came to unbridled hobbies.

“These uniforms were specially made to fit your measurements.  It doesn’t look like they were made just yesterday.”

“I took the lady seriously when she said she wanted to replace my old robes.  …I’m grateful to her for giving me the chance to see my sister in her uniform though.”

“That means you’re not completely against it, so I hope you’ll be careful.”

“W-w-what, that’s wrong though!?”

As Hetaro shook his head and hands in a panic, Julius turned to Mimi.  She was the oldest of the three siblings.  Therefore, it was natural to speak with her.

“May I ask why you are here?  I have an appointment with Lady Anastasia tonight, but…I told her that I would be the one to come and see her.”

“Hmm?  Huh, but the lady came with us!  I think she said she had something really important to discuss?  And so, inishative?  She wants to have that?”

“The lady likes to surprise people, so I’m sure that what she’s aiming for.  As my older sister said, I think she wants to seize the initiative.”

Mimi broke down the contents of the story into simple terms, while Tivey added intelligently.  Hearing the combined efforts of the siblings in reply, Julius felt a tingling sensation deep in his heart once again.

It seemed she was a woman who didn’t let things go as planned and wouldn’t let him take the reins.

“Oh?  Is Julius having fun?  Is it interesting?  Are you having fun?  What happened?”

“If I had to say, I was surprised by how you all greeted me.  Your uniforms were also unexpected.  The scheme was successful, Mimi.”

“Oh!  That’s good!  So what do you want to do?  Go to the lady?  Are we going?”

“I’m supposed to have returned home, so it feels strange to be shown around by guests.”

“But we’re supposed to have inishative!  So, we’ll show you around!”

Moving around quickly, the two younger brothers opened the gate at Mimi’s signal.

After the exchange at the gate was over, Julius finally stepped onto the grounds.  Then, following Mimi, who was humming a tune he had never heard before, the group headed to the front door.

“Are you three the only ones accompanying Lady Anastasia?”

“The lady left the Captain behind at the inn because his voice and size were too much and he got in the way.  He’s apparently drinking and waiting, so I think you don’t need to worry.”

“It seems there’s no need to worry about him.  With you three as Lady Anastasia’s guards, that’s enough, is that right?”

“Yes.”

Listening to the off-key humming, Julius nodded in agreement with Hetaro and Tivey’s pride.

Though it would be hard to imagine from their appearances, these three siblings were the vice captains of Anastasia’s private army—and their abilities were undeniable.  When the three of them were together, they were skilled enough that even Julius could not let his guard down.

“You all came to greet me, leaving the servants of this household behind.  It seems best to assume that this household has already been subdued.”

“We didn’t do anything dangerous like that.  Joshua seemed a little flustered though.”

“My younger brother is inexperienced.  Perhaps I left him to do something terrible.”

Julius could picture his younger brother’s panic in his mind, and a wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.  That smile made the other two, who had plenty of experience being pushed around by their superiors, chuckle in response.

Once inside the mansion, the four were greeted by members of the Juukulius household at the entrance.  The servants, whom he had known for many years, looked remorseful for having let guests be sent to greet him, but Julius simply nodded in apology and told them to get back to work.

Then, following the rest of the guidance from the excited Mimi, they made their way to the reception room.

“Heya, we’re coming in!”

Mimi opened the door with enthusiasm, and a room decorated in warm colors unfolded before them.  There was a table in the center of the room, and looking in their direction was—

“—Welcome back.  Did ya have a nice chat with yer friend?”

Anastasia smiled as if she knew exactly what he’d been doing.

Next

[ladybugbirdie42]

oh he picked adelheid all the way up. i was picturing more of like a side hug type hold lol. he's showing off

another tiny julius

belmont cute but probably shady

helaine definitely shady

[ladybugbirdie42]

tiny julius

also, why did they make bikram so attractive??? excuse me???

[ladybugbirdie42]

Anastasia Camp Formation Story Translation Pt 5

First | Previous

5

In a corner of the Royal Capital’s commercial district, there is a bar called “Silver Shield” which is frequented by the kingdom’s knights.

The owner is a former royal knight who retired due to an injury, and as a result of his colleagues and subordinates who admired him spreading the word about him among the knights, the bar has become an unusual place with only knights as regular customers. The bar’s reputation is excellent, but the owner laments that because there are so many knights among the customers, regular customers don’t come.

Julius had also found out about this bar after joining the knights. Since then, he had been a frequent visitor for several years, but it wasn’t just for the food and drinks.

“Mr. Conwood, I’d like to borrow the back room.”

“Sure thing. …It’s rare to have both the ‘Finest’ and the ‘Sword Saint’. Please don’t plot anything evil. It would be terrible if the country were to be turned upside down.”

“Don’t worry. Our swords are there to stop it from being turned upside down. Like a shoddy pole.”

“——. Haha, that’s what a Knight among Knights would say.”

When the owner laughed at the end of the exchange, the whole bar, having heard the joke, became noisy.

Behind that, the owner tossed a key over the counter. Reinhard took the key with a wry smile and handed it to Julius who headed to the back of the bar.

At the back of the bar was a private room—a room with thick walls that provided some soundproofing.

The reason why the Silver Shield was so highly valued by knights was because there was no need to worry about secret conversations taking place in the bar being leaked. The owner and customers were all people connected to the knights, making it a special privilege.

“So, we came all the way here to have a secret chat. Can I assume it has something to do with the royal selection?”

After locking the door to the private room, Reinhard, leaning against the wall, got straight to the point.

The room had a round table and two chairs, no unnecessary decorations, and was a room made entirely for private conversations. Now that Reinhard had spoken, there was no need to worry about his voice leaking out. In that regard, Julius had complete confidence in his red-haired friend.

Therefore, Julius, leaning against the table, lowered his chin in response to Reinhard’s question,

“As you may already know, a third candidate has been found. I recommended her to the Council today, and they have confirmed her qualifications.”

“Her…that means the third candidate is also a woman. At this rate, it looks like all the dragon priestesses may end up being women.”

“Are you unhappy with the idea of a woman being on top?”

“I have no complaints if the person is deemed worthy of the throne. However, the next king will, in short, be the founder of the next royal line. It may sound bad, but it’s easier for men to pass on their bloodline.”

As Reinhard looked at the royal selection from a different angle, Julius silently touched his own bangs.

The current Kingdom of Lugunica is not only without a king, but is also facing the danger of the royal family being cut off. As Reinhard feared, the next king will be the first of a new royal family.

In view of these circumstances—

“—I think it would be natural for Lady Crusch to become king after all.”

“The Duchess’s family is a family that has always been close to the royal family. There is no small amount of royal blood flowing in their veins. And above all, Lady Crusch has great potential.”

“She herself is very keen to take the throne.”

The more he spoke about the current situation, the more he felt that the optimal solution had already been presented.

Crusch Karsten had the makings of a king. She also had a good reason to desire the throne.

The reason why she was so strongly attached to the throne—even Julius knew it, though to a lesser extent.

“The entire royal family fell ill. So, it may be disrespectful to mourn just one person, but…it’s regrettable what happened to Prince Fourier.”

“Reinhard…”

“His Highness was an equal person. That was something I could say about all the members of the royal family, but I had many opportunities to interact with Prince Fourier. He didn’t treat the ‘Sword Saint’ with any special consideration…Well, I’m sure Ferris was the one he had his eye on.”

“Or rather, Ferris and Lady Crusch, right?”

Both Reinhard and Julius smiled as they thought of the same person. Thinking back, the only memories that the owner of that name had were ones that warmed their hearts.

That was the kind of person Fourier Lugunica, the fourth prince of the Kingdom of Lugunica was.

Julius hadn’t had many contacts with him, but even with the few he’d had, he’d gained a lot from them.

Crusch, who had been close to him and likely shared his feelings, had much more—

“—Therefore, it may be most natural for Lady Crusch to inherit the will of the late Prince Fourier and ascend the throne. I also think that this is a noble and beautiful thing to do.”

“But you’re not convinced. That’s what you sound like.”

“——”

Reinhard pointed out to Julius, whose words had gotten heated in the latter half of his sentence, his voice trembling at the end. Julius closed his eyes at his words, and remembered what had happened at the royal castle just before.

Facing Anastasia, Crusch had declared that she would give it her all in the royal selection.

It was a declaration of war, and though it was typical of Crusch, who preferred to play it fair and square, there was something about it that made him feel uneasy.

Surely, the cause of this unease lay in the root of Crusch’s obsession with the throne.

The reason why Crusch wanted to take part in the royal selection and become the king of this country, her true intention was surely—

“—So that we won’t forget, I suppose.”

There was a great royal family member who remained as a warm wound in the hearts of Julius and Reinhard.

What if there was something that had carved a strong, large, deep, burning wound on that person’s existence that would never heal?

Even though you wish that you would never forget, that you would never let anyone else forget, the sweet pain of that wound—

“It’s frustrating that I can’t put it into words.”

“…No matter what the driving force may be, as long as it moves in the right direction, I don’t mind. I have no doubt that Lady Crusch will govern well. That goes for you too, doesn’t it?”

“Of course. However, that is…”

Pausing his words, Julius groped around in his mind, searching for the perfect words. There had to be words somewhere that would properly express the feelings that lingered in his heart.

And as he searched, his fingertips tracing his memory touched something.

It was a very succinct, spontaneous comment from someone that got straight to the point.

“That is—Is it a story that looks good?”

“Julius?”

“Should we accept that the king who holds the throne of the kingdom has her heart bound by something? Even if she is a wise ruler who rules well, is it the honor of a knight to place a wounded woman on the throne?”

He’d been told that before.

It was a knight’s job to look good. If you look good as a knight, you will naturally become more like a knight. You will embody the honor of chivalry.

Those words put into words the ideal that Julius had in mind almost perfectly.

“I believe in the code of chivalry. The loyalty I have given to the kingdom is true. Therefore, if I offer my sword to my country and to my king, I do not want to go against my code or my loyalty.”

“Is that chivalry something that cannot be followed under Lady Crusch?”

“Under Lady Crusch’s current circumstances, it cannot. However, it is not my place to say anything about it. That person has already been appointed a knight. Therefore, that role does not belong to me.”

What comes to mind is a friend of his who is a knight who worries that he doesn’t look like a knight.

He knew that he had sworn absolute loyalty to Crusch, whom he regarded as his master. So it was possible that something like that could never happen. Or, it was possible that his own thoughts were completely misguided and he had completely missed the mark.

But if Julius was right and would not turn away from his principles or loyalty and continue to be a knight—

“—I want to dedicate my sword to someone I can trust without any hesitation.”

“——”

Julius spoke these words with passion and force. Reinhard, who had heard them from the beginning, raised his eyebrows in slight surprise.

However, his red-haired friend, leaning against the wall, nodded several times,

“I think it’s good. It’s very Julius-like and cool.”

“…It’s more than a little embarrassing to hear you say that.”

“I was just being honest. You don’t often show that side of yourself to those around you. That’s why people often misunderstand you. They don’t realize that the real you is so straightforward, it’s almost too straightforward.”

Reinhard gave a wry smile, and Julius looked away, feeling embarrassed.

It’s just the way he was born. He couldn’t change it now, and he didn’t want to. It’s sad that it causes misunderstandings, but it would be counterproductive to let it cause him to compromise his character. Moreover, it wouldn’t be elegant.

“However, from what I’ve heard so far, I’ve only heard your statement of intent. It’d be fun to have a heated discussion with a friend about the future of the kingdom, but…that’s not the real purpose, is it?”

“That’s right. I’ve gone off topic a bit. It’s a bad habit of mine to go off on a tangent. Sorry.”

“There are other views to be had on the way. I don’t mind.”

Julius nodded to Reinhard at his friendly response. Then, he finally got to the main subject that he had summoned Reinhard to the private room for.

That was—

“—‘Sword Saint’ Reinhard van Astrea. The highest-ranking swordsman in the Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica, the ‘Knight among Knights’, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Let me hear it.”

This was not a proposal from a friend, but from the standpoint of a knight. Sensing this, Reinhard moved away from the wall and uncrossed his arms.

Seeing not his red-haired friend, but the current ‘Sword Saint’, Julius closed his eyes.

However, he only closed his eyes for a moment.

“Anastasia Hoshin—that is the name of the woman who has been recognized as a dragon priestess and joined as the third candidate for the royal selection.”

“Hoshin…”

Reinhard frowned slightly at the familiar family name. However, Julius put aside the small feeling he had and continued speaking.

“I see in Lady Anastasia the potential to be king. Therefore, I would like to ask you, Reinhard…to be her knight and support her in the royal selection process.”

—That was Julius Juukulius’s best answer for the royal selection.

Next

[ladybugbirdie42]

Sword Demon Battle Ballad: The Eight Arms’s End

[ladybugbirdie42]

Where is that Julius button from? Is It fanmade or official?

It's official pretty sure. I bought it (and Ana and Rein) on Mercari. I still see some listed if you're interested. There's even a listing with a matching Reinhard button!

Feel free to message me if you have any questions. I know it's hard to find rezero merch that isn't Ram/Rem/Emilia :(

[ladybugbirdie42]

them

[ladybugbirdie42]

if you were running a criminal organization and this 16 year old showed up and was like "i'm a cold-blooded killer. i've killed like 5 people. trust me", would you believe him?

[ladybugbirdie42]

Joshua Juukulius's Careful Encyclopedia Ex Translation

1

—The scenery outside the window always looked like an illusion that was out of reach to me.

“—Joshua, what are ya doin’?”

“Wha!?”

Suddenly, a voice called out to him from beside him, making Joshua’s shoulders jump up and down like a child who had been caught playing a prank.

“Sorry, sorry, I startled ya by calling out to ya out of the blue, huh?”

“N-no, that’s not true. It was because I was spacing out…”

As Joshua turned around, adjusting his monocle that had shifted out of place, he responded to the gentle smile of his master—Anastasia.

In truth, it was Joshua’s mistake. Anastasia hadn’t tried to hide her presence, and she probably had no intention of surprising Joshua. After all, she wasn’t Mimi.

“But speaking of intentions, Mimi doesn’t mean to surprise anyone either. She just surprises people with her honest words and actions…”

“Fufufu, it seems like Joshua has gotten to know my children well. I’m very happy that they’re gettin’ along. And…”

“And?”

“Ya seemed to be starin’ intently at them just now, didn’t ya?”

Stroking the white fox scarf around her neck, Anastasia, who was standing next to Joshua, turned her light blue eyes to the outside of the window—to the Iron Fang’s training being carried out there.

The garden of the Juukulius mansion in the royal capital was quite spacious and was now filled with about twenty people, giving it a lively appearance. At the center of it all was Ricardo with a large hatchet on his shoulder, and the people around him—all beastmen—were attacking him one by one.

It was a scene of Ricardo, the leader of the Iron Fang, harshly treating his members.

Naturally, among the people Ricardo was fighting was—

“Hey! Captain, it’s time to finish this!”

“Ya idiot, if you’re gonna surprise me, keep quiet! But you’re energetic, that’s one of yer good points!”

Raising a spirited voice, Mimi also jumped from behind Ricardo.

As per his sound advice, the surprise attack that revealed the attacker’s presence was easily avoided, and Ricardo caught Mimi’s robe with his hatchet and threw her far away.

“Yikes, I can’t watch this. I’m glad they didn’t get hurt.”

“Ricardo is skilled and Mimi is also agile. Besides, I don’t think there aren’t any injuries. Training is about getting hit and getting hit and learning from that.”

“—Hm?”

Anastasia covered her face with her hands and watched the members of the group train through the gaps between her fingers. She gave Joshua a meaningful sidelong glance in response to his answer.

Joshua blinked and said, “Ah.”

“S-sorry! I was being too bold! I’m just standing here watching the training and pretending to understand…”

“What? There’s no need ta panic like that. I’m not angry at all, I’m actually impressed. Joshua is the son of a family of knights after all.”

“The son of a family of knights…”

Anastasia mediated, but Joshua was at a loss for words.

Those expressions and titles were the least suitable for Joshua Juukulius at the moment. He would have preferred to keep his mouth shut if he was to receive such an evaluation—

“Joshua? Why did ya go quiet?”

“Wha!?”

As he slowly lowered his head, the woman peered at his face so closely that he could feel her breath, and Joshua screamed as he crashed into the wall behind him. The crash sounded so loud it seemed as if the window in the hallway would break, and Anastasia put her hand over her mouth.

“Yer such a hectic kid. I think my face isn’t that good-lookin’ though.”

“I-I think Lady Anastasia is cute and beautiful!”

“I feel like I made ya say that. But thanks.”

“It’s just, well, I wasn’t mentally prepared for it…”

Feeling his own heart pounding in his palm, Joshua was busy trying to control his face, which was turning red and blue, along with the emotions that were linked to it.

Of course, what he said was not a lie. Her large, round, light blue eyes brimming with curiosity, her pretty features that were perfectly positioned, and her long eyelashes that could rival Julius’s were all very attractive.

So Joshua’s current panic was due to the thorn that had been stuck in his heart for so long.

“If you’re the son of a family of knights, you should be standing on the other side of the window, not this side. Instead of speaking wisely, you should silently prove your position with your sword…To give me such an evaluation is not only a waste, but disrespectful.”

“——”

“That’s why! My brother who perfectly embodies the ideals of a knight is wonderful! With abilities and achievements like his, there’s no need to be silent. On the contrary! From the perspective of the other person, it’s only natural that they’d want advice on everything!”

Clenching his fist tightly, Joshua emphasized how amazing Julius was, a man who went above and beyond the typical image of a knight.

Yes, Julius was a true knight. The only one who deserved to be called “the son of a family of knights” was Julius, who had accumulated the achievements that one should have. But he exaggerated a bit. The other knight families were also surely striving to be worthy, even if they weren’t as good as Julius.

Unworthy strays were far more rare and far more wrong.

“——. Julius really is important to Joshua, huh?”

“Yes! I think it’s presumptuous to say that, but even if I gave…yes, even if I gave everything, it still wouldn’t be enough; he’s an amazing person!”

Though Joshua felt a slight sense of discomfort at the implication, he answered Anastasia with vigor. Anastasia nodded several times, saying “I see, I see,” and then turned her gaze out the window again.

“Maybe it’s because of that? Joshua seems to have pretty sharp eyes. It seems like ya even saw Mimi bein’ sent flyin’ earlier.”

“That’s… That may be true. I’ve always watched my brother train with my father since I was little. In that sense, I was in an environment that was the envy of the kingdom’s knights.”

Joshua clapped his hands, realizing that Anastasia’s point had that kind of aspect to it.

Certainly, Julius’s training was something that many knights would be willing to pay to watch, as he was one of the elite of the Royal Guard and was even called the “Finest”. If you had watched him improve steadily since he was a child, it was understandable that you would have discerning eyes—

“No one can imitate Julius’s trainin’ anyway, so if we made a spectacle of it, how much…”

“L-Lady Anastasia? I heard some really impure calculation…”

“Oh, sorry, sorry, don’t worry about it. Whenever I see somethin’ that could lead to a business opportunity, I can’t help but think about how I can make money from it.”

“That being said, if you could not include my brother in that…”

Julius was a generous and caring person, so if any knights asked to watch his training, he would gladly accept. Joshua was frustrated that Anastasia had turned this into a money-making scheme, as if Julius’s humanity and cultivated skills were being converted into money.

His inner thoughts must have been more apparent as Anastasia laughed and said, “Don’t make that face.”

“I’m sorry if my bad habit made ya feel uneasy. It’s Joshua’s privilege to be able to watch Julius’s trainin’. I won’t take it away.”

“No, that’s not what I meant! Please don’t embarrass me…”

As if she was enjoying teasing Joshua, Anastasia’s smile deepened even more, so Joshua turned away from her and narrowed his yellow eyes, looking at the soldiers training once more.

Not having learned her lesson, Mimi came running back and jumped on Ricardo again—

“It looks like this time Hetaro and Tivey will join.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Look—”

As Anastasia tilted her head, she looked towards Ricardo, but Mimi, who looked like she was going to jump straight at him, suddenly turned around at the last moment, and while he was distracted, Hetaro and Tivey, who had quietly approached, launched a surprise attack from the side of Ricardo.

However, the brilliant teamwork of the three siblings was ineffective against Ricardo, who was swinging his large hatchet.

“It wasn’t bad! Mimi, yer eyes were wanderin’ too much! Hetaro and Tivey, ya need ta hide yer presence better!”

“You got us! Captain, you’re amazing!!”

The three of them who were hanging from the end of Ricardo’s hatchet were being spun around above his head by a laughing Ricardo, and they could be heard squealing with joy and screaming.

Joshua, watching from afar, smiled at Anastasia beside him and said,

“It turned out just as I said, didn’t it? But Ricardo who didn’t seem bothered by that is incredible. He is worthy of being Brother’s training partner.”

“——”

“Lady Anastasia?”

Joshua was impressed, but then he suddenly noticed that Anastasia hadn’t said a word and became worried that he had upset her somehow.

However, Anastasia shook her head in response to Joshua’s question and replied,

“It’s nothin’, it’s nothin’. …Joshua, ya really have good eyes.”

“I-I’m sorry to hear you praise me so many times, but… Ha! Maybe this is a prelude to a big request or a big scolding!? That’s why you’re being so kind today…?”

“Hey, hey, hey, I’m always kind, ain’t I?”

Anastasia’s hand suddenly reached out and pinched his cheek, and Joshua murmured, “It hurts.” Anastasia laughed mischievously at the answer, leaving Joshua very confused.

It was true that Anastasia was generous and kind to her family. Joshua was relieved to think that not only Julius, but he, too, was included in that group.

However—

“Is it just my imagination that the way Lady Anastasia looked at me just now is the same as when she was thinking about making money earlier?”

2

“—Joshua, that kid, is it possible he could become somethin’?”

After finishing up her day’s work and looking over the firm’s income and expenditure report, Anastasia asked this to Julius, who had invited her over during her break.

Julius was a little surprised to hear his loyal master speak of his younger brother, but he didn’t show it on his face and continued,

“Joshua? I’m glad that my younger brother is being praised, but what did you notice about Joshua, Lady Anastasia?”

“Today my kids were trainin’ in the garden, right? Ricardo was in the middle, and Mimi and the other members of the group were jumpin' on him.”

“I heard the same thing from the members of the household. …Don’t tell me, did Joshua join in?”

“No, it’s not that bad. I just happened to come across him while watchin’ in the hallway.”

“Is, that so?”

Julius sat down, having almost risen from his seat, and played with his bangs with his fingers, smiling bitterly. Anastasia’s cute brow quirked in response to Julius’s reaction.

“Hm~ What, what? From yer reaction just now, there must be somethin’, right?”

“As expected, you have a keen eye. …Did you notice anything as Joshua watched the Iron Fang’s training, Lady Anastasia?”

“I thought his eyes were good. There were other things too, but that was the main thing.”

Anastasia pointed to her own eyes with two fingers, and Julius sighed softly.

Anastasia, a great merchant of Kararagi, had an eye for beauty that could discern not only things, but also people. And if something met Anastasia’s eye,

“As expected, Joshua has something extraordinary.”

“Ya say as expected, but ya weren’t certain of it, were ya?”

“Unfortunately. As you probably know, Lady Anastasia, Joshua was weak when he was young and was unable to receive a proper knight education.”

“It seems so. He seems to be in much better shape now, and apart from bein’ a little too thin, I don’t see any signs of weakness at all.”

“Yes. As he grew, those problems faded away. That in itself is something to be pleased about, but…”

Julius stopped talking and turned his gaze out the window.

In the corner of the garden of the Juukulius mansion, which could be overlooked from the room prepared for Anastasia, there was a tree with appas growing on it. He remembered the day Joshua first asked for that appa.

While recalling those distant days—

“I often heard from my father that Joshua had been forced to give up his education due to his health condition but that he had a natural talent for swordsmanship.”

“…It seems like yer father had a good eye for that too.”

“After all, it was his own son. But that was why he was so frustrated. Because of that, I received very strict instruction from my father.”

“But thanks to that, Julius is who he is today.”

“Yes.” Julius nodded vigorously to Anastasia’s words.

As a child, despite his actions and words, Julius sometimes resented the hardships that befell him, but now he was deeply grateful for them.

His father’s regret and frustration became the strict guidance he gave Julius, shaping him into the person he was today.

“And it’s not just my father’s guidance. If Joshua ever decides to take up the sword, I don’t want to be a big brother who loses so easily.”

“Oh, that’s surprisin’. Ya also have that competitive spirit, huh, Julius?”

“Of course I have pride and dignity. I may not show it much to you, Lady Anastasia, but I’ve always been quite competitive. However…”

“However?”

“The reason I don’t want to lose to Joshua isn’t because of my pride as a knight or a man, but because I want to be an older brother that my younger brother respects.”

Slightly relaxing his lips, Julius defined his feelings for Joshua in this way.

In every sense, he was in a privileged environment. His father taught him the Juukulius way of life, his friends taught him how to be a knight, and his younger brother taught him how to be stubborn.

“So I am happy that Joshua is being praised by none other than Lady Anastasia. Although, I think that Joshua himself is not very keen to take up the sword…”

“—Ya know, Julius.”

Julius was about to continue, saying that it might be difficult, but Anastasia stopped him. Anastasia stoked her fox scarf and smiled sweetly as usual.

“Ya know this, but I don’t like things that are wasteful. It’s not that I particularly think it would be good if Joshua became a great swordsman, but I can’t stand the idea of him livin’ his life with the mistaken idea that he’s not worth anythin’ at all.”

“That’s…Then, what are you going to do?”

“Right. …For now, I’ll give him more work, especially work with more responsibility. Somethin’ that’s closely related to the royal selection would be good. How ‘bout bein’ an emissary to the other candidates?”

Anastasia’s hands were clasped in front of her chest and her eyes were shining as she made the suggestion, and Julius widened his eyes slightly before giving a wry smile. —It seemed Joshua had touched on her troublesome nature.

And that would surely bring about a desirable change for Julius as well.

“Hoshin’s saying! ‘Confidence makes a man. Confidence is created by achievements’! I’ve decided, I’ve decided. Now that Joshua’s part of my family, I have to make him happy.”

This philosophy, so typical of Anastasia, gave Julius a premonition that it would bring a new wind.

It was the same as when Julius had sensed that she was a suitable candidate for the royal selection and a person fit to be king.

—The new wind blowing through the Juukulius household seemed like a sign that would bring about change in his younger brother’s future.