Stranger's Handbook - WN Chapter 01-76
Page 16
Ah! A tiny plate was prepared for the little young lady.
They watched the mini young lady contently eat her meal and started to make merry noises again.
Indeed, this thing sure is cute.
“It reminds me of her childhood.” “She really looks exactly like the young lady.” “Spirit-sama, please try this as well.”
She’s been thoroughly turned into a mascot.
“I never thought I would be able to see a case of spiritification with my own eyes. Zest, you truly are incomparably exceptional.”
Master was in a great mood.
Today was the celebration of my spiritification and it rapidly turned into a huge feast worthy of opening the mansion’s wine cellar.
It was such an accomplishment, an auspicious event that must be celebrated.
The last recorded spiritification was 300 years ago, accomplished by a healer mage who assisted the plague countering measures.
He had a spirit companion and saved countless people, but after that no other case of spiritification took place.
When a spiritification occurs, it signifies the birth of a great mage, the rebirth of a legend, and it would cause a huge commotion.
This was what master enthusiastically explained.
Somehow, it was different than I expected and even I started to feel delighted. I felt so relieved to see that they didn’t treat me like a pervert who fell in love with a doll……
My whole body started to completely relax and I enjoyed the banquet.
I incidentally looked at the exchange diary which was contently eating some cake now. The maids surrounding her were totally enchanted with the mini young lady and were full of smiles.
She really is charming; I should give her a name.
I thought about it a bit while drinking some wine.
Maybe the young lady wants to decide on a name too. I’ll just wait until I’m back and discuss the matter together……
I took a bite of the cheesy side-dish.
At which point, my slightly drunk master said:
“Zest, make sure to bring this child too for the audience!”
Right……I completely forgot I have an audience with the Emperor.
Do I really have to enter the palace looking like a pervert in love with dolls?……..This will be exactly what those people will think of me…….
The cheese seemed saltier than ever.
I can taste my tears…….
* * *
Translation: Nana
Proofreading: Carmina
DA BEST (among the worst): Mockii
Chapter 33: Audience with His Majesty, the Emperor
I am sleepy, oh so sleepy, I am sleepy and lazy and *yawns*♪ …..
Enjoy Chwapter 33! ^.^
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Chapter 33: Audience with His Majesty, the Emperor
(Master, the palace is so big!)
“That’s right.”
(Master, it’s so shiny!)
“…..Yeah.”
We were currently walking inside the palace, on our way to have the audience with the Emperor.
The soldier who was guiding us kept on looking over his shoulder sending flickering glances.
That’s to be expected considering it was probably his first time seeing a middle-aged guy talking with a doll sitting on his shoulder.
“Zest, I know you’re having fun, but don’t be in too high spirits.”
“Yes, father. I apologize.”
He was talking like that because there were other people watching.
As a free translation, it would be something like this:
‘Is spirit-san having fun? However, we must not expose it just yet!’
‘I know that already.’
Since it’s about a very rare happening, a legendary spiritification, the first one we must inform of this is his Majesty.
Because of that, I had to suffer a bit longer.
The exchange diary spirit kept on talking to me.
She was clearly excited and very curious and was constantly crying out.
Hey, don’t move too much! Your skirt is lifting……
She was wearing the same clothes she had when she first took form.
A black dress made from the same fine leather of the diary’s front cover with beautiful golden decorations here and there and a belt made of the mithril chain coiling around her waist.
I was excitedly fixing this cute doll’s skirt.
……..The soldier was looking at me with such an obvious face, I was unquestionably a pervert in his eyes.
My master, who was walking beside me, turned his face away, shaking lightly.
He’s definitely laughing.
The soldier was looking at me like I was an ominous ‘thing’…..a middle-aged guy groping about a little doll figure. And another weird guy looking in the opposite direction and trembling.
The maids we’ve encountered along the way were screaming whenever they saw us. And in this manner, we’ve finally arrived in front of the audience room.
The soldiers in charge of protecting the gates readied their hands on the swords at their waists for a short moment, but I pretended I haven’t seen that.
When the soldier who guided us started to announce our arrival, the gates opened slowly.
“Sonia Varnam, the Magic Division Commander of the Varnam Frontier Count’s Household and Lord Zest Varnam.”
The soldier at the entrance called out.
The audience hall seemed full of nobles.
We advanced on the extravagant, blue carpet spreading in front of us and when we got to the boundary line that separated the blue colored carpet from the red colored one, we dropped to one knee on the floor and lowered our heads.
By the way, if you step on the red carpet, it means a physical ‘sayonara’.
“Raise your heads.”
I raised my head and looked at the person sitting on the highly elevated throne.
He was a strongly built man with short blond hair and blue eyes.
This person…..is the Emperor?
“Long time no see Sonia, how many years has it been?”
“Yes, it’s been 5 years. I’m really happy to see you’re doing well, your Majesty.”
He nodded and turned to look at me.
Such incredible pressure…Is this the aura of the person who has reached the top?
“So you are Zest?……I see. Now I understand why the Frontier Count’s Household appreciates you so. You have a good expression and great magical power.”
“Thank you very much for your kind words.”
“I’ve heard about the matter with the Imperial Mage and I’ll recognize your duel officially. However, to duel for marriage……It really was like a fairy tale.”
His Majesty was grinning broadly.
It seems I won’t be blamed now, nothing can topple over the decision of his Majesty, the Emperor.
“I am very grateful. I received guidance from my foster father, so…..”
“Ha ha ha, that’s right. Your foster father is that Galef! If that’s the case, it really can’t be helped.”
Foster father, what did you do?……
When I mentioned my foster father who married his childhood friend, the Emperor had a burst of laughter.
You did something, right? I’ll have ask him when I go back.
His Majesty’s laughter reached a point where he could pause and one of the nobles took the chance to clear his throat loudly.
“I have something to ask, your Majesty.”
“Prime Minister, talk.”
It was a middle-aged man with a good physique.
So that’s the Prime Minister?
“Yes, your Honor! Urm, Lord Zest……Just what is that doll figure sitting on your shoulder? Did you believe that such a joke during your audience with his Majesty will be forgiven?”
The entire audience hall fell silent.
Whispering voices could be heard.
“So it wasn�
��t an optical illusion after all!” “Can you see it too?” “I thought I drank too much last night……”
It became rather noisy.
However, his Majesty raised his hand and the hall quieted down again.
“Zest, I suppose it has some meaning, right? Tell us.”
That is actually true.
Only a lunatic would so such a thing on a whim.
So there was in fact a possibility to be accused of rudeness all of a sudden…..
No, since my master took care of this matter, he probably made some arrangements.
I gently put the exchange diary down on the floor.
“This is in fact our book that went through spiritification. Hey, greet his Majesty, the Emperor.”
The exchange diary walked with tottering steps, raised her little head to look at his Majesty and waved her hand while smiling sweetly.
“Given that it’s been only one day since the spiritification took place, I humbly ask to forgive her rudeness, your Majesty.”
I quickly bowed my head.
Exchange diary! Bow, you have to bow!
My wish didn’t reach her…The exchange diary kept on waving her hand towards the Emperor.
Yes, she looks very cute, but that’s not the problem here.
The audience hall was ruled by deathly silence.
The one who broke that silence was the Emperor, who stood up and said:
“Send emissaries to every nation! A great hero who accomplished spiritification was born in our empire! ! Furthermore, open the national treasury and announce all the people in the imperial capital! We are to prepare for a grand feast!”
“It’s the return of a hero!” “Quick, prepare the fastest horses!” “You can use as much money as necessary, we’ll party in grand style!” “Tell everyone to start the preparations. Holidays are to be postponed.”
The audience hall completely transformed into a beehive.
I gently brushed the head of the exchange diary, who got scared because of all this unfolding uproar. At this late hour I came to realize once again what an amazing feat spiritification was.
“Zest, be prepared. The banquet is going to last three days straight!”
I didn’t have the necessary energy to answer my smiling master…….
* * *
Translation: Nana
Proofreading: Carmina
DA BEST (among the worst): Mockii
Chapter 34: Secret Meeting with the Emperor
Hey guys! ^^
I know I am late with posting this chapter and no, I didn’t forget about it. I just felt extremely lazy yesterday and ended up doing nothing but reading….Yup, the entire day… xD
Sorry about that. But, to prove that I am still nice, I prepared 2 chapters for you today.
Enjoy Chapter 34, while Chapter 35 is on the way!
Ja nee
* * *
Chapter 34: Secret Meeting with the Emperor
“Well done, Zest. I will also reward your achievements.”
The audience hall has already lost half its people.
And when the noise has finally settled down, that’s what his Majesty said to me.
A great achievement not seen for 300 years.
Because I accomplished this spiritificitation, the plans for a grand banquet are already in motion, but before that, for the situation to conclude properly, I must be rewarded too, it seems.
“Thank you, your Honor. I am really grateful for your kind words.”
The Emperor nodded in satisfaction.
“Look forward to it. Later, I will announce it during the state ceremony, when I will show your face to our people, on the palace’s terrace.”
Ah! I have to think about it for now, so wait a little……Is that what he meant? This achievement is rather big so he might have to consult his people first, before deciding on a proper reward, or so I figured.
“Your wish, your Majesty.”
After the Emperor took his leave, the Prime Minister approached us.
“Both of you, his Majesty wishes to meet with you in private. Please follow me.”
So he has something to say that couldn’t have been said in the audience hall, therefore he requested a secret meeting, huh?
“Understood. Let’s go, Zest.”
“Yes, father.”
Anyway, there was no other option but accepting.
I made the exchange diary sit on my shoulder again and followed after the Prime Minister.
The palace’s corridors were like a battlefield.
With the Prime Minister in the lead, we had preferential access, however the maids and the soldiers were busily coming and going, an absurd uproar was reverberating inside this otherwise refined palace.
“We’re short of hands in the assembly hall. You five, come with me.” “I called the maids who were taking the day off!” “Go in the town and buy up some sake. Hurry!”
Yeah, this is a battlefield…..I’m really sorry I’ve caused this.
The exchange diary was grabbing and pulling my hair when we arrived in front of the room in question.
The Prime Minister opened the door and entered.
It looked like a council room.
It only had a huge desk and a few chairs, and we sat down where the Prime Minister indicated.
Waiting in a corner of the room was an old…..wrong, young-ish maid, who started preparing the tea.
She glared at me shortly and I felt like she could read my mind. It felt awful….
The Prime Minister waited for her to finish the preparations then opened his mouth to talk.
“Well, long time no see, Lord Sonia. I figure that Lord Zest doesn’t even know my name yet, so let me introduce myself…..My name is Ark and I am serving as the Prime Minister. You can call me Prime Minister or Prime Minister Ark.”
“I am Zest. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
I stood up and bowed.
“Ah, you can sit. And you know……”
‘Bang’
The door was heroically opened and the Emperor entered.
“I’ve made you wait. You’re all here.”
We stood up once again and bowed.
“It’s all right. Sit comfortably. For this precise reason I wanted a private meeting.”
He hurried to the seat of honor, sat on the chair and waved his hand.
We took a seat as well. He drank some black tea and turned his head to look at us.
“Oh! Does spirit-dono want to drink something too? Zest, what is it that she prefers?”
(Master, I want to drink that.)
“Yes, it seems she was interested for a while now in that fruit water.”
I felt embarrassed, but I answered nonetheless.
Spirit-dono?……Only the Emperor could have address her like that.
The maid prepared a small cup and the exchange diary started gulping repetitively.
The exchange diary is drinking juice.
Even if I say so myself, it only sounds like the utterance of an insane man.
“Good. Now that I look at her closely, she’s undoubtedly a spirit. Really now Sonia, you’ve brought me an utterly shocking souvenir.”
His Majesty was staring at the exchange diary, smiling bitterly.
“That’s right, your Majesty. However, she only got born last night, we didn’t really intend to….”
“I know, this is not something that you can actually plan for. On the contrary, it’s just the right development, since this will be settled with Zest’s reward and debut.”
Oh, right. Indeed, as the wall that’s protecting the empire, the Frontier Count’s Household is indispensable.
Compared to the likes of that noble pig that caused unnecessary trouble, I, who am already accepted into the family of the Frontier Count, am more worthy of deepening our relationships. So this is your ulterior motive, huh?
“I understand. I am a son of the Gaiyus’ Household and a future husband in the Frontier Count’s Household.
And ultimately, the shield of the empire.”
‘In any case, you’ve already investigated my background, right? Still, now that I’m a noble too, I don’t intend to oppose the empire, you know.’
That would be a free translation of my spoken words.
The Emperor and the Prime Minister were grinning broadly and nodded.
“That’s to be expected of the husband the Frontier Count acknowledged.”
“If he’s like this, then everything’s good. He seems to understand the inner workings of the nobility as well.”
All I could sense was a bad premonition, but I didn’t dare to ask further.
You’re happier in this world when you don’t know too many things. That’s a fact.
I gently brushed the exchange diary’s hair and feigned ignorance.
Haha, this thing sure is cute……She’s so docile, even though she looks exactly like the young lady.
I freely admired the exchange diary.
However, I was only trying to escape reality in the end.
My master, who was watching the scene, had his face covered in smiles as well. Did he remember the young lady in her childhood or something?
“Haha, you, Zest, are really something else. So, you bring up the spirit at this point?”
……..What?
“You sure play your cards in a bold manner, maybe due to your youthfulness. But you are daring. Your Majesty, I think everything will be all right.”
……..What are you talking about?
“Ah! You calm yourself down and bring up the spirit to threaten us slightly. You are quite the schemer.”
………Everyone, what exactly are you talking about, wearing those eerie smiles?