Shiro no Koukoku Monogatari Chapter 1 (Part 2)

Let me say that THESE translations are only rough translations without edit and proofread. Read at your own risks :P

Merry Christmas !!!! __________________________________________________________________

When he woke up from the deep slumber he had, his eyes could not see anything.

No, it should be that his eyes, for several minutes, were in the state that could not perceive any object.

However, he thought nothing of the blurred vision he had, he was just in a daze, incapable of even a normal thinking process. During that time, he could not even tell if he has a consciousness until his field of vision started to restore.

Perhaps it was because of the increasing intensity in the vision his eyes could perceive, the hitherto thinking process that came to a standstill started, but it matters not to him.

He got up; the cracking sounds in his body brought a frown onto his face and made him grunted.

“Have I . . . wake up?”

Although asking this question to himself seemed inappropriate, but the first thing that he blurted out was this sentence. Have I wake up? Or have I not wake up? What am I doing?

He let out a sound, after clearing his mind a little more, he started to grasp the circumstances he was in.

Testing the feelings in his hands and feet – no numbness, breathing the air through his nose – a sweet fragrance can be smelled, then licking his dry lips – pain spreads out. His face twisted at an unbearable pain that no words could describe, that moment he realized the bed he was lying on was quite extravagant.

Knowing nothing about furniture, he only knew that the bed sheet was a high-quality good due to the comfortable feel. He looked around gingerly, the interior were full of high-quality furniture that did not come cheap.

“!”

How frightening.

He did not know what was frightening, but he certainly felt so.

Perhaps when the feeling of uneasiness crossed a certain line, people would felt fear.

“Where is this place?”

And, who is the person alone in this place?

Despite having consciousness of himself, the memories were vague, leaving him feeling disgusted.

Unable to understand, even though he tried to comprehend, his ‘self-awareness’ was too little for him to do so.

This feeling was just this weird.

When he began to concentrate on clarifying the mixed up memories jumbled in his mind, a sound that was faint yet could not be neglected came from the door located at the corner of his vision.

“!”

A knocking sound came twice. His shoulders twitched at the same time.

When he was pondering a few seconds on whether to reply, the door opened by itself.

Correction, the door was opened by a fair-skinned yet slender hand.

“Excuse me.”

“ . . . ”

The one opening the door was a maid, her pale light blue color hair in a ponytail. He felt that this maid did not exceed 20 years of age.

To the extent of his knowledge – from his memories – the woman in a maid outfit with a mesmerizing face, had only greeted him for a moment but had headed straight to the washroom, obviously did not expect any response from the him that stayed in the room.

At that moment, he felt as if he was one of the furniture placed in the room that no one particularly cared. Not once had the maid looked his way. Her line of sight was placed on the window on the wall opposite the door.

Even while removing the carpet that could absorb sound, the maid’s footsteps only produced faint sound.

She walked to the window, opened the thin curtains, and coincidentally looked his way.

“ . . . ”

“ . . . ”

As a result, her line of sight met his.

In that instance, the atmosphere in the room turned silent. When he realized the pupils on the wide-opened eyes of her was brown –

“ . . . P-PRINCESS!”

“!”

With the lovely look she displayed just now completely disappeared without a trace, she ran out shouting in her high-pitched voice.

The pitter patter sound of footsteps and the voice shouting “PRINCESS!” gradually died away.

“?”

The only one left in the room is a youth whose thoughts got more confused.

__________________________________________________________________

On the other side of the door, loud footsteps rang out in contrast with the quiet castle. Although the carpet along the hallway absorbed some of the noise, the sound of heavy footsteps could be heard clearly, causing her and the peoples in charge of administrative gathering in her office to frown. Based on previous experiences, when such footsteps appeared, most probably bad things awaited them. These peoples, in these few months, had continually been tormented by these ominous signs, giving rise to their displeasure when hearing hurried footsteps.

The displeasure was even more evident on the owner of this room; the fold that appeared when she furrowed her brows was the deepest among all the occupants of this room.

The peoples in charge of administrative were gathering and exchanging their opinions. She was in charge of substituting for her father, who had gone out of the city, and taking minutes of these meetings.

When the maid opened the door with a sound loud enough to cause the daily necessities to shake, she severely reprimanded:

“We’re having a meeting right now, please be quiet – “

“Princess Meriela!”

However, the maid ignored her, Meriela’s reprimand, called out her name and said something shocking. The next instance, Meriela’s calm demeanour totally collapsed.

“He woke up!”

“Huh?”

Meriela was stunned. She took in the maid’s words, understood her meaning, proceeds to raise the hem of her dress and flew out of the room.

The peoples in charge of the administrative were left behind. Every single one of them was unable to conceal their surprised expression at the abnormal behaviour of the princess.

Shiro no Koukoku Monogatari Chapter 1 (Part 1)

In “Altodestenia Kingdom”, receiving the recognition of the King, four dragon clans were granted status and honor, among them White Dragon Duke lives in a castle within the land he rules, called White Dragon Duke’s Castle also known as “Crystal Palace”.

Black Dragon Duke’s Castle, also known as “Obsidian Palace”.

Blue Dragon Duke’s Castle, also known as “Sapphire Palace”.

Red Dragon Duke’s Castle, also known as “Ruby Palace”.

The aliases of these four castles came from the four main magic beads – White Stone Beads (White Crystal), Black Stone Beads (Obsidian), Blue Stone Beads (Sapphire), and Red Stone Beads (Ruby), mined from all over the world as basic magic materials.

There is a history behind the style of these buildings; they are modeled after the king of this kingdom’s Heavenly Star Castle (also known as Diamond Palace).

In the eyes of many people, these four castles have reputations on the same ranking, except for those working under the four Dragon Dukes; they all felt that their own lords have the most distinguished castles in the entire kingdom, so as long as they all gathered in one place, they will naturally boast about the symbols of their cities. It is not an overstatement to say that the number of times this has happen is so often it has become a routine.

Among the four castles, White Dragon Duke’s Castle is located right next to a quiet lake. This lake is well-known as a habitat for spirits and is called Undine Lake.

Beside the lake is a port that is built on a large sum of manpower and budget – the facility is perfect in the fact that warships and other large ships can dock in and prepare – although, usually all sorts of sizes of ships dock in the port, but a large ship exclusive for the Duke’s family “Alumina”, now a transport for the Duke’s family to other cities, is docked on the other side of the port, all the other medium and small-sized vessels are on other wharves. But, today unexpectedly, only a few ships without purpose are dock there.

One woman is standing on the dock’s wharf.

“. . . whew.”

Her silver hair swaying in the wind blowing across the lake indicates her blood-relation with the White Dragon Duke.

Fair-white face with dazzling golden pupils inherited from her mother. Her mother, before the marriage with the White Dragon Duke, no, even after they became husband and wife, is regarded as having the most beautiful looks around.

The graceful figure with clothes adorned with white accessories, even the bards would sing about her beauty, was just like a goddess.

But, the expression that appeared on that face was a dark one.

She sighed and looked across the lake. If someone saw this, they might have the thought that she was going to commit suicide by jumping into the lake. In fact, she really has the thought of jumping into the lake. Although, she still has some rationality in her, restraining her from putting it into action, but the will to dispel that thought did not exist.

“ . . . Ah . . . really. . .”

‘If people can live based on rationality alone, if people can live based on wishes alone, wouldn't that be nice?’    

As a daughter of a Duke that rules over a large territory, as a soldier of a kingdom, she has never act out her role. She has neither approved the value she has nor has she a reason to let others approved.

These ashamed-to-face-the-people thoughts have robbed her of all her cheerful expression.

She understands that, whether good or bad, the nobles have their obligation. To her, just this alone was enough to make her lose sight of the value of her own life. Once she thought of the problems that will arise if she was to take her own life, and the problems she will cause to other people, she loses the will to end her life.

She is the daughter of the White Dragon Duke; the majority of her life is built on the sacrifices others make, this is not about what she wishes, from the moment she was born, this has already been decided.

“ . . .”

Even so, she still thought of jumping into the lake many times, once she thought this world does not need someone like her, the idea of committing suicide does not easily disappear. Yet, when she was about to do it, the rationality inside her stop her from doing so. After repeating the struggle for some time, the indecisive her, lift her line of sight as if trying to change her depressing mood. Then, she looks around, feeling as if something is wrong with the side of the walls by the lake.

“What’s that? Some kind of suspicious item – no way, there shouldn't be anything explosives, but. . . ”

She thought about many possibilities for a moment, with eyes filled with doubt and alert, she concentrated on the center of the weirdness, in her mind, one of the military-used magic started – Far-sight magic, letting her mana channel along the magic.

What appears on her mind was something unlike the vision perceived in reality. What she saw was something that should not be possible, but was something that she could not completely deny. Wide-eyed, she took a deep breath.

Then, her breath stopped and the air she sucked in was spitted out.

 “. . . Wh- !”

Was that a voice calling for someone, or was it a moan? The confused her could not remember what she said.

Shiro No Koukoku Monogatari Prologue

Now some confusion clear up~~~reading this cause me some headache too

__________________________________________________________________

 I died.

Up to this point, death is only an event that came too abruptly. By the time I realize it was already too late, I can only surrender.

At the beginning, I had a sudden headache, the next moment I cannot walk anymore. It was so painful that I trashed around on the bed, grabbing my head tightly. The pain did not disappear, saliva trickles down my mouth, and desperately I cringes my body, waiting for the headache to subside.

Just like this I endure for some time, until I realize the pain did not lessen, the thought of giving up emerges while in agony. Soon after, that thought spread out through my consciousness. ‘Will I die here – probably so’, I thought.

Thinking death was already set in stone I got lost in thought, until I suddenly remembered hearing cases of sudden death that appeared in news. ‘Ah, this time it’s my turn?’ I had such thought in me.

‘It’s not like I have a girlfriend. My brothers are much more excellent than me, salaries are high, so there is nothing for me to worry about.’

‘With these reliable brothers around, there is no need to worry about my parents’ well-beings when they are old.’

‘The company which employed me since last year should be the same, even if someone useless such as me who went to work for only two years is gone, on the morning the day when the news about my death is announce , it will only cause a minor confusion and everyone will revert back to normal afterwards.’   

I did not feel particularly empty.

After all, I am only a person with such a meager ability.

Now that I think about it, since when did I become such a person who gives up so easily?

After some thinking, some clues were found.

“- ah, oh, you’re talking about that guy? He’s really a fool, reading all those books like crazy. Yet, he still didn’t pass the exams. Whatever, it’s not like I’m on friendly terms with him, what he did is none of my business.”

Was it when I abandoned all sorts of friendship, trying my best in order to get into the university I desire yet failed and all the friendships I gained up to that point were lost?

“In the end, that guy can’t even be a good imitation. I thought that since he’s that guy’s brother, he can at least serve some purpose, but my expectation was for nothing. And I treated him nicely too…. he still has a younger brother, why not just go after him and see?”

Or was it when I found out during high school the girl that I dated was talking behind my back, saying how I was an inferior goods compare to my elder brother, an extra?

“Why can’t you be like your elder brother, he put in effort tirelessly and ended up working in a good company. With you being like this, you can only get into a third-rate company. If you keep fooling around like this, your future will also become third-rate, until the day you die it will still be the same. Why, when both of your brothers are so serious, why only you alone….”

Or maybe it was when I cannot find the goal of my life, becomes unmotivated while working in a small company yet my elder brother live up to expectations by entering a well-known company, causing me to begin to harbor hatred for my parents who compare me with him, and finally without a word, ran away from home?

Even though I said that, I have no attachment for that place.

No, the thought that I have even a shred of attachment is laughable.

Never accomplish anything. Could not left behind anything that can be called a memory, cannot even show the value of living, cannot even be a good counterfeit. Until the very end, even my presence was not even recognized.

After reviewing my whole life, the only way I can protect myself is by giving up. I can only give up; only by giving up can I survive. The only thing I am good at is giving up.

Besides that, I have nothing; even the will to strive is buried under the word ‘surrender’.

Even at this moment, I plan to surrender. After living a life of degradation, the result is only becoming one of the people classified under ‘case of sudden death’ in the everyday society. This country has much of this kind of people.

Yes, one of the billions of people living in this world disappears, that’s all.

When I found out that even in my final moment, I cannot muster an ounce of desire to live, thinking ‘Ah, I fail again as expected’ and giving up on living, that instant my head was so painful that it felt like it was cracked open,  finally ‘I’ gave up on living.

Shiro No Koukoku Monogatari Preface

From the collaboration of my crappy Chinese and crappy English, I bring you the crappy translation of the light novel SHIRO NO KOUKOKU MONOGATARI. Please enjoy! Btw, this is my first time ever doing a novel translation and a blog. I will appreciate it if any of you point out any mistakes I made

__________________________________________________________________

“My comrades, the warriors of our Kingdom!”

On a desolate plain where the cold winds blows, a smooth ringing voice resounded.

Using amplification magic, the voice penetrated matters and projected itself into the mind, through the vast plains and beyond, until it arrived at the army gathering in the distant sea.

“The time to decide the rise or fall of our Kingdom has come.”

The smooth roar surrounded the military, as though it could shout directly to the depth of their hearts.

The roar filled the hearts of the people.

Interwoven with the souls, a scream that shocks their senses.

“More than 2000 years ago, upon this very land, our ancestors have suffered under tyranny, and so they rise up in arms.”

Deep within their hearts, the voice had stirred the slumbering, long-cherished dream of their ancestors.

A world without cruelty.

A life without violation.

A reality without being tortured.

“They fight, emerge victorious, and created the country you all live in, thus you were born into this world.”

Only desired a future where life is free from fear.

Only desired a place where there is no cruelty, no violation and no torture.

“However – no, “That is why” you have to keep on fighting.”

To protect the things that you obtained.

To protect the things that you do not want to lose.

To protect the things that you are unwilling to be taken away by others.

“You have to battle. This is not for the country, but for your descendants. No, that’s wrong.”

It is in order to protect, the things you want to protect –

“I will also fight, together with all of you….”

He raised his sword.

A sword that is slender yet elegant.

This weapon is his symbol, a symbol that instilled fear upon his enemies – “The King’s Sword”

“I will not ask you to sacrifice for your country, to sacrifice for justice. I only want you to sacrifice for the very land you step on, for the comrades by your side, and for protecting the people behind them.” He turn over his blade, the light reflected his own army.

“And if you were killed in battle, do not die in any place except in front of me. I will forever etched your face in my memory and ensure your heroic tales last forever.”

This is something that he can do, because it is him, it can be done.

The price to obtain power is oblivion, to abandon salvation and become a sinner. As the current leader for these sinners, he has the obligation to do so.

“That’s why, let us depart. For the souls we have lost thus far, for the things these souls have once protected “   

The light reflected off the army, surely his “enemies” has also seen it.

“That’s why, let us forward. For the future we are about to create.” The light aim at the millions of soldiers line up neatly in front of them.

“All units – ATTACK!”

-          “This is a history from a distant past that has been handed down for generations. Among the symphony of roars and the tremors, a young man’s battles are about to end. Even if he continues to survive, even if he continues losing, he will always hold on to that sword. That is why I look up to him and wanted to keep on watching over his back.”

-          Excerpt from the notes in the possession of the Kingdom’s Military Museum;

Author: Unknown

Date    : Unknown