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Friday 17 July 2020

Vol. 1 Chapter 4

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Chapter 4

With the help of information from O'Neal, they're able to find the name of the Colombian who brought 'fairy' from that side to San Teresa.

Amazingly, O'Neal noted down the plate number of almost every cars that visited his club. When he filters through notable numbers from the list and checks it with his acquaintance from the Substation 7 he quickly finds the target Colombian's address.

Antonio Albanese, aged 24 with record of two prior arrests.

"5081 Mason Street, room number 603. Remember, now you own me one, Kei."

"Thanks, Roy"

Police Sergeant of Substation 7 on the other side of the phone — his classmate from the police academy years — answers back amicably. Matoba doesn't think much of this debt he's making, if he really wants this information there are other ways to obtain it. But checking with them like this is a way of politely informing the local station. It's merely one of the gestures of courtesy to maintain the delicate relationship between the central police department detectives and local detectives.

Matoba then contacts his boss, Roth.

"Got the information?"

"Somewhat."

Matoba gives his boss the address of the Colombian.

"Seems like Albanese was the one who brought the fairy to this city, those Filipinos just stole it from him. That Albanese guy is probably panicking over losing such an important cargo right about now. If he's not desperately trying to get the fairy back, he's probably fleeing from the city. Well, we will know it soon anyway."

"Need backup?"

His boss asks him whether he wants assault team likes SWAT prepared.

"Nah, I think it's fine. But if there's no contact after 30 minutes then you can start to worry about me."

"Understood. That Semanian—— Exedilika, how's she?"

"She's in the front passenger's seat. Do you want to hear her voice?"

Having said that, Matoba faces the phone's microphone toward Tilarna.

"Say hello."

"What?"

Tilarna makes a puzzled face, Roth then speaks from the phone.

"I heard it. Don't let her get hurt."

"Well, I will try."

"Don't go in yet, wait first."

"Why?"

"I will contact Substation 7 first, if they interfere in the middle of things it will get messy."

"I already contacted them, through Roy."

"It's not the same this time. You have a Semanian VIP with you. Better do it properly and contact the station chief."

Damn, it comes to this.

Matoba curses in his mind.

"...Understood. Please do it as fast as you can."

He stops his car on the street near the 'Seven Miles' residential area close to the alley with rows of one-storey buildings.

"We wait here."

Matoba stops the car engine and tells Tilarna so. Tilarna finally loosen her fingers from the sabre scabbard.

"So we are going to arrest that Colombian guy next right?"

"Well, yes. But boss said we have to wait for the go signal first."

Matoba leans back into his seat and let out a groans in low voice.

The sun has almost sunk beyond the skyline. Light can be seen from Albanese's room windows. Honestly, he wants to find something to eat, but that will have to wait until after he finishes this job. For a normal pair, one would keep their eyes on the target and the other one would go buy some food from the nearby store. But for Tilarna, he doesn't want to ask her to do anything at all.

When he turns the radio on, a Super Bowl match is airing.

But the match is being played in Atlanta, not San Teresa. In the last year, AFC Patriots won another landslide, his co-workers all complain 'What a dull season'. Matoba is not interested in football from the start, but he really loves watching baseball which has many amazing Japanese players.

"I don't get it."

Tilarna listens to the broadcast and complains.

"The voices coming from this radio, what are they talking about?"

"It's sport. Kinda Earthling proxy war."

".....?"

"Your country should also have it, shouldn't they? Or perhaps you have people fight to the death like Roman gladiators?"

"My world also has something like that."

Unexpectedly, Tilarna also knows word like gladiator.

"My country hasn't held one for over 200 years, but if it's wooden sword fencing in front of the lord we do hold it quite often."

"What a surprise. So you guys do value human lives."

"Of course, unlike you dorinies who wouldn't make releasing poison from workshops or killing an unborn baby a crime."

"Pollution and abortion huh? Those are also quite complex issues. You know what? Let's stop talking politics."

"Not politics, morals"

"Whatever."

They idly listen to the broadcast for about 15 minutes.

Both of them hardly exchange words with each other. Suddenly, Tilarna looks out the car window and says.

"Farbarnian"

"?"

"A Semanian Farbarnian just passed by there."

From the corner of Matoba's eyes he sees a man in black coat crosses the street and disappears around the nearby corner. He couldn't get a good look at the man face.

"There are no Semanian around here right?"

"There aren't many, but not like there are none at all."

Matoba answers with disinterested. Tilarna narrows her eyes toward corner the man disappeared behind and looks intently. After not saying anything for about 30 seconds, she speaks again.

"I can smell it."

"That's so? Well, you aliens are stinking country bumpkins all the same."

"Idiot. It's lartena. I'm saying it's the same smell from that dead body."

"Uuu...."

Matoba sits himself back up from the deeply leaned against seat and turns his eyes toward corner the man disappeared to. He can't see him any more, but the direction the man disappeared to is the direction of the entrance to the suspect Colombian, Albanese, apartment.

Don't tell me....

He hesitates for a moment. There's still no go signal from his boss.

Nothing he can do about that.

"This is bad."

Matoba immediately decides, he opens the door and leaps out of the car. He unholsters automatic pistol from behind his waist while starts running toward Albanese's apartment.

"So we're going in?"

Tilarna follows him like a matter of course. Matoba stops and glares at her.

"No, you waits here."

"That will not do."

"Don't be ridiculous! What good can you do? Just obediently stay...."

This is hopeless. He doesn't have time to be arguing with her.

"Damn it! Do as you please."

Matoba clicks his tongue and runs. He passes through the walkway and kicks down the entrance fence gate. He passes by in front of a mailbox—— the elevator is no use, it's now on sixth floor—— he runs to the stair inside. Albanese's room is on the sixth floor. He runs up the stair three steps at a time like a speeding bullet. With such force the girl shouldn't be able to catch up, but he can hear Tilarna's breaths and footsteps right behind him.

He's amazed, she can keep up with him.

Even as he's silently amazed, he's frantically climbing the dimly lit staircase without looking back. Dirty wall and rusting handrail pass through his vision.

At that moment a light flashes behind him. Probably an almost broken fluorescent lamp blinking—— Matoba who is in a hurry thinks so to himself.

Third floor, fourth floor, fifth floor. Finally, sixth floor.

As expected, he's out of breath. Quite a difference from the time of hellish training in the Self-Defence Forces, he mocks himself.

He gets to the sixth floor hallway. What he's looking for is room 603.

"What the hell!"

As he thought. The room 603 door is partially opened, it's been broken in from the outside.

Maybe it's still not too late, Matoba hangs onto a thread of his hope and rushes into the room 603 without caring about room clearing procedures he's been taught from the police academy or army Killing House, relying on only his senses, experience and reflex.

The interior is tastefully decorated in monotone theme.

He passes through the entrance. Left and right of the hallway are bedroom and bathroom, there's no one there. He walks in while scanning the living room with his sharp eyes. On the wine-red sofa in front of a 30-inch television screen, there're two men there.

The dark skin man is a Colombian, he's now lying face up on the sofa gushing up blood from his mouth. The other one is a Semanian in black coat holding a curved blade knife in his hand, looking down at the dying man.

"Freeze! Police!"

Matoba shouts and holds the 9mm pistol straight with both his hands.

The man looks this way. His right hand holding the knife moves.

Flash. The knife cut through the air spinning toward Matoba's face. The knife barely grazes his cheek and lodges itself on the door behind him.

No, simply saying lodges itself does not do justice to it. That knife completely penetrate to the other side of the door, the whole blade up to the hilt stuck in the wall. The hinges that were holding the door are completely warped, the door makes a clamorous sound as it fall off from its frame to the floor.

That was an incredible strength. Not something an ordinary person could do.

There's no time to be panicking. Matoba immediately prepares to fire back. Almost at the same time, he is pushed from the side. Tilarna shoves him away, the bullet misses from the disrupted aim. Tilarna moves to pursue the man turning around to escape. Her sabre draws an arc through the air, but the man nimbly jump back, causing her sabre tip to just grazes the man nose.

The man's movement is inhuman.

He makes a somersault in the air and lands in front of a window. The man looks back over his shoulder and pulls a pistol — No, not a pistol but a machine pistol, an Israeli Micro Uzi — out.

Fire blazes from the gun muzzle.

He fires a sweeping barrage in full auto. A series of high-pitch cracks reverberates through the air.

Matoba grabs Tilarna, who's blindly trying to stab the man, in the shoulder and pushes her down. One moment late and she would be Swiss cheese. Dozens of 9mm bullets fly over the prone pair's heads.

Countless number of bullet holes appear on the wall behind them, ripping up the decorating picture postcards. Furthermore, vases and lamps are shattered to small pieces and sent flying all over the place.

"Bastard!"

Broken pieces of glass and debris rain down on his head. Matoba yells in anger and fires back. He can't aim properly but he hopes to create a chance for them to move if that guy flinches only a little——.

The other side doesn't flinch at all.

As if not caring about his own life, the man retreats while mechanically laying down precise volleys. Matoba practically can't poke his head out of the cover. The gunfire momentary stops. His opponent is changing magazine. Now.

He gets up and fires a three-shot burst. It hits the man's torso.

The man does not fall down, but calmly cocking the gun handle, points the muzzle to him and violently continues firing. Matoba pushes Tilarna, who's trying to get up, down, and goes prone himself.

Firing until the magazine runs dry, the man breaks the room windows and escapes to outside balcony. He probably plans to run downstairs through the fire escape.

When Matoba and Tilarna get up, they shout in anger at the same time.

"Why did you get in my way!?"

Matoba got pushed when he was taking a shot, Tilarna got shoved down when she was about to slash the man. Truly a terrible cooperation. But when they shout in anger they instead do it at the same time, what a joke.

Let put the quarrel for later. Matoba irritatedly clicks his tongue and runs to the window.

"I'll follow him! You go ahead of him, go down the elevator and——"

Matoba stops mid-sentence and makes an annoyed face. There's no way he can trust this girl to execute a complicate pincer attack plan.

"——No, it's fine. You wait here, don't move."

"Not a chance, I will catch that man."

"I said it's fine, don't do anything!"

Even as he's trying to intimidate her by angrily shouting with all his voice, Tilarna starts pursuing the man, not caring about him. She passes by Matoba's side and climbs the broken window frame.

"Wait! He has a machine pistol, you know!?"

This is too reckless. After he said that, he finally notices a change in Tilarna.

Before he knows, Tilarna is in a suit of white armour.

The armour has a silvery sheen pattern, covering major parts of her small body. It's designed in such way that does not restrict movement. From its look it seems to be lightweight. It's clearly different from the Farbarnian style clothings that she wore not long ago.

Since when?

The time to change into that armour, from when they leaps out of their car to now, there shouldn't be even a second of that.

"Don't worry. This armour can defend against dorini's weapons."

She shows a face that not to the point of smiling, but is very relaxed. At that moment the childish appearance of Tilarna seems to resemble a veteran warrior. A professional soldier or police who knows what he can or cannot do will have an expression likes this in the face of danger. Tilarna at this moment is the same.

Tilarna goes after the assassin and disappears to the other side of the window. If it comes to this then he has no choice but to go ahead and set up an ambush. Matoba runs back to the hall way, plunges into the elevator that's still waiting on the sixth floor, and presses the button for the first floor.

While he's stuck in the elevator he keeps thinking. That assassin is the same as the Filipino guy who killed Rick, he's being controlled by a Semanian shaman. That absurd strength and that vitality. He also doesn't feel fear or pain. If he really is a puppet, even if they can catch him it would be hard to get any information out of him.

Even so, it's still strange. Why would the 'shaman' who controls that guy go to the lengths to arm his sacrificial pawn with a machine pistol and send him to confront them? Just killing that Colombian Albanese guy should be enough to silence his mouth, why would he need to run away? Why wouldn't he just commit suicide with the knife he was holding?

The elevator arrives at the first floor.

Matoba impatiently waits for the elevator's door to open and immediately leaps out. The balcony's fire escape is to the west of the apartment. When that assassin gets down from the fire escape he should be running to the north on the nearby footpath.

Matoba rushes to the backside alleyway, he sees the Semanian assassin right on the platform between the second and third floor of the fire escape. Tilarna, holding a drawn sabre in her hand, is charging down from the third floor. The man turns his gun muzzle, aiming at the girl.

"Get down——"

He fires in full auto. A torrent of bullets attacks Tilarna. She crosses her arms to protect the head area. The bullets hit her shoulder, chest, stomach, and thigh.

"!"

Tilarna was struck. Her small body shakes multiple times from the bullets impact. She powerlessly collapses on her back and slowly slides down the stair.

The man climbs the handrail and jumps down from the fire escape.

"Freeze!"

Concern about Tilarna has to be put for later. He shouts an order out of ingrained police habit. Sure enough, the man points machine pistol his way. Matoba shoots him around his heart. Even so, the man's gun erupts flame. Hail of bullets flies everywhere. Some bullets hit and ricochet off the asphalt, others the building wall.

Matoba takes cover near a garbage can and clicks his tongue. His meagre 9mm rounds can't do a thing. He should've brought a shotgun from his car with him. Had he used a powerful slug round, even a zombie would be incapacitated in a single round.

(Well——)

This is not the time to be regretting that. Right now his cover is a paper-thin garbage can. If that guy keeps shooting, his life will be in danger. At this rate——.

Matoba's train of thought has to stop there.

Tilarna leaps down from the second floor of the fire escape, swiftly descends, and cut the assassin diagonally down from his back with her full force.

His left shoulder almost separates from his right flank in a single stroke.

There's absolutely no death throe. Without any expression, the man crumbles down in a fountain of blood.


From afar, patrol cars' sirens can be heard. At his feet is the assassin's dead body.

After an uncomfortable silence, Matoba yells at Tilarna.

"You just suddenly cut him in two!"

Despite being gunned down earlier, Tilarna doesn't seem to suffer any injury. Her armour protected her from the assassin's gunfires. The white metal plate has a little bit of soot sticks to it, but doesn't seem to have any dent.

After having just killed a person, Tilarna's breath is undisturbed. Like water in a tranquil lake, she gazes at the man. Her armour and face are dyed in crimson spots from the man's blood. If he has to berate her for anything, it's not for her not being sicken by blood, but for her seemingly unfeeling attitude.

Illuminated by street lamps, the girl's white visage and the spreading pool of blood at her feet seems to float amongst the thin veil of darkness. The glamour, the immatureness, the brutality, they all conjures up a startling paradox. A picturesque scene is created on accident. A gorgeous young lady holding a blood-stained sabre, like a scene straight out of your dream.

But he isn't in the least captivated by it.

The situation left them with no choice but to kill him. But that kind of thing should be 'left to the adult'. With this appearance—— this innocent young girl appearance, Tilarna ruthlessly did this sort of thing. Matoba feels exasperated at the incongruity.

"So this is the justice you spoke about? Act like Don Quixote? Catching this guy and arrest him, did you not even think about that? Did you intend to turn this guy into a sashimi?"

He knows what he's saying is unreasonable. He was trying to shoot this guy to death just a moment before. It doesn't matter whether he died by a gunshot wound or by a blade. If thing went badly he instead would probably be the one lying on the street bleeding to death right now.

Indeed, this is just him venting his anger.

"That man was controlled by arts(mildi). I don't think he will yield any information even if we interrogate him."

Finally, Tilarna opens her mouth.

"Then, why would that guy run away? If he really is an expendable puppet would there be a need for him to fight us? Now that he's dead we don't have any lead to go on."

The girl raises corners of her eyes and stares daggers at him.

"Because you were going to be killed, dorini. You don't have to be thankful, but you have no right to reproach me."

"Oh, me? You intended to help me?"

"As a knight of Mirvor, protecting the weak is my duty."

"That was none of your business. Also, I'm not weak. At least I can judge when to stop a thoughtlessly charging idiot."

"Are you speaking about me?"

"Seems like you alien bastards have at least some imagination. I'm relief. While we're at it, let me tell you something. I'm starting to feel like you're being sent here to hinder the investigation more than anything."

"What do you mean?"

"That was unintentional?"

Matoba puts on a pretentious smile and looks at Tilarna. His eyes are not smiling at all.

"I don't care what kind of big shot you are. Perhaps you got some pocket money from someone on that side, that's just my feeling."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Let's say, if it would be inconvenient for someone on that side in case the fairy gets rescued, and then there's this honourable knight that they bribed. So the honourable knight comes to this city and disrupt some investigation.... something like that. The previous scene was a bit too violent, so I'm starting to suspect something."

In the next instant, Tilarna brandishes her long sabre in a flash, its blade stops exactly on Matoba's neck.

"This will be my first and last warning, Kei Imatuba."

She speaks with seething, quivering voice, as if to repress a rage on the verge of exploding. Her small body seems to enlarge manyfold.

"If you use that kind of words to insult me a second time. I will cut you down. I'm serious."

"Hee. That's so?"

He looks at the gleaming naked blade with apathetic eyes and mutters.

"Did my low birth barbarian(dorini) words hurt you that bad?"

"Silence(zeahjaa)!"

"Sure, sure."

Matoba shrugs his shoulders. His pistol in a hip firing position produces a click sound. It was a sound of him lowering the hammer[1]. At the same time as when Tilarna was unsheathing her sabre, he pointed his gun at the girl's delicate chin.

Perhaps just noticing the gun pointing at her from the hammer dropping sound, the girl seems to be surprised.

He put the gun back into its holster like nothing happened. He's already vented his anger, there's no point in continuing this dispute any further.

Matoba turns his back to the still standing Tilarna. He crouches down beside the assassin's dead body and starts examining the man's possessions.

"The gun is an unlicensed copy one, straight up rip-off from the genuine Israeli ones. Even so, obtaining this gun as a Semanian would be quite difficult. Other than the gun are.... ah— only some cash to use in the escape, no driving license, no working visa, and of course, not even a video rental store's point card."

He takes wrinkles bills and coins out of the man's pocket, heaves a sigh and puts it back into the pocket. He then looks over his shoulder to Tilarna and speaks in a soft tone.

"Hey, I just want to ask you one thing."

"What is it.....?"

"You really want to catch the culprit and take the fairy back right?"

"Of course."

Tilarna says so while awkwardly putting her sabre back into the scabbard.

"Me too. So, why do we have to shout at each other with weapons drawn in this filthy alley anyway?"

"......."

"Well, whatever. Let's get back to work. You wait here and keep watch on the dead body until the local unit arrives."

Matoba gets up and walks to the main street.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going back to that Albanese guy's room earlier. I want to check on something."

Tilarna doesn't say 'I'm coming with you'. Seems like she plans to obediently wait there. Matoba once again gets on the elevator from the apartment's front entrance. He heads to the room 603, the other tenants are crowded the common hallway surrounding the room 603 from a distance. They whisper to each other about one thing or another with anxious faces.

"Move aside. Police."

He pushes his way through the crowd and enters the room.

The marks from the gunfight are still fresh. The body of that Colombian guy, Albanese, is still in the living room. In the bedroom there's a Boston bag left opened, clothes are scattered around it. Seems like he's in the middle of packing. Was he planning to run away?

He searches Albanese's dead body. There are wallet and a couple keys, but no mobile phone.

He searches bedroom for a landline phone, there's no sign of it even in places where it should be. Living room also doesn't have one. Even the cord got taken away.

"Damn it."

They got tricked. Now they can't check the call history, voice mail, or fax. After Matoba's team went after the assassin, someone came into this room and skilfully got rid of all potential evidences. This guy sure has some nerve.

The reason someone had that assassin — that puppet clashed with them and escaped, this is probably what they're aiming for, to lure Matoba and Tilarna out of the room.

Of course they can subpoena the phone provider for the call history, but that will require a court order and will take at least several hours to be approved. In that time the 'opponent' would have finished sweeping other evidences clean from the record. Now there's no way to know what Albanese talked with whom on his phone.

Matoba goes back to the hallway and asks other residents around about any suspicious person they saw. They answer none. Then Matoba continues to insistently search around the room, but doesn't find anything substantial. After this will be the forensics turn. Although he probably couldn't place his hope too high.

The enemy is quite shrewd. Very formidable.

Until now, he's treated this case as a drug gang related case. At most he thought it was a turf war between some shitty yakuzas with ties to high-purity narcotics.

But this isn't any of that.

Just the skilfulness of the perpetrator is a testament to the seriousness of this case. The fairy is much more important than he thought. That fairy wasn't just a simple VIP, perhaps the root of this situation is even deeper than this?

Then there is Tilarna.

Even if it seems like the Semanian knight really want to rescue the fairy back, she's still hiding something. The timing that the girl arrived at this city, and him being pushed into being a babysitter. If one thinks about it, the timing is too strange. It's been almost 10 years since the start of Earth-Semani relation. It wouldn't be strange if diplomats who have some understanding of this side's procedure were dispatched here.

Instead, the one who came is that girl. Is there something going on behind the scene?

(What in the world is happening?)

There are too many unanswered questions. Matoba shakes his head and clicks his tongue.

The main street is filled with noise. Finally, the local police unit arrives together with their patrol car's deafening siren sound. What a slow respond. Nowadays the respond has been slow, no matter which district it is. San Teresa's public order is worsening, but the funding and personnel are entirely inadequate.

Seeing a badge-less Tilarna who stands in front of a murder scene starts having an argument with the arriving officers, Matoba quickly leaves the apartment.


His boss Roth doesn't censure them for going in without his permission. He always respects Matoba and his teams' situational judgement. Then there's the fact that boss' good will ended up backfired, Had they gone in the moment they arrived Albanese might not have died.

"More importantly is the timing of the attack."

Boss Roth talks on the other side of the radio.

"If Albanese wasn't being watched then there's a leak."

It's as he says. The attack happened just before Matoba's team seizes Albanese. Hard to imagine it's merely a simple coincident. Perhaps their opponent knows that the police is investigating Albanese and decides to send someone to seal that guy's mouth. An astonishingly quick reaction, how did they get the information anyway?

"I don't know either. In any case, the possibilities are as many as stars in the sky."

"What about that information broker O'Neal?"

"That guy being the mole is also a possibility, or perhaps that guy's bouncer Kenny. Maybe it's from some guy in the Substation 7. Maybe it's you, maybe it's me. But at least we can exclude this gallant knight, at any rate this girl doesn't even know how to use a phone."

Tilarna who is sitting in the front passenger's seat frowned.

"I do know, you know?. I've read it from a book."

"Really? Amazing, there definitely must be nothing you don't know, mustn't it."

Matoba ignores Tilarna who is glaring at him with her forehead twitching and continue the discussion.

"....As we discussed, I will keep this report short. Although, If possible I want to speak with you face to face."

"That's fine with me. But be careful out there. We're definitely not dealing with an ordinary gang matter here."

"Roger that. .....Let's go."

Matoba hangs up the radio and accelerates his car.

"Where are we going?"

Tilarna asks. The girl is now back in her usual clothes. The armour from back then is now nowhere to be found.

"Several places. Just in case, we have to go check whether O'Neal is a mole or not, then try to get in contact with someone who knows Albanese, perhaps his Colombian brothers might have some clues. Then we need to question some boat captains, the one who can go back and forth between the 'gate' must be what carried Albanese and the fairy to this city."

"The smugglers aren't they? Do you already have a target in mind?"

"Just say my unit name."

"Special Vice Squad."

"As you just says."

The works Special Vice Squad responsible for are primarily drugs and firearms related, other than that they are also dealing with contraband and smuggling. They also do undercover operations. Naturally, they have a lot of information on smugglers, there also are some smugglers that they purposefully let go to keep an eye on.

"Other than business people—— maybe his woman? Although we don't know any specific woman he is related to."

"In that case will it work?"

"Well. Let's just see how it goes."



⛌⛌⛌⚖⚔⚖⚔⚖⛌⛌⛌



1. Matoba's service pistol seems to be SIG Sauer P226R.





Translator's Note

After some suggestions from people on the discord server, I decided to change the default tense to present. This should help to alleviate confusions in the translation.... or not(?). Tell me what you think and if I have time I will go and change the previous chapters to conform to the new tense style.

Also change 七分署 from Division 7 to Substation 7.


Hello! First, Sorry for the long hiatus. Past couple of months has been quite eventful to say the least, and I'm sure that's also true for all of you out there around the world. Uncertain schedule and plans that don't survive the week seem to be a new normal at this time. Well, thing has calm down quite a bit, at least in my country, and I hope yours will be the same soon. Let's return to some normalcy in a reasonable time. Good luck, wash your hands, and stay safe.


To Detective Masterclass on discord, sorry, I misclicked and reject your friend request. If you could somehow leave a comment in this chapter with discord tag for me to add you back or join my discord server that would be great.





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Friday 17 January 2020

Vol. 1 Chapter 3

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Chapter 3

In the end it ended up as Roth and Director planned.

For Matoba, he feels it's useless to argue with his boss any further. What boss Roth said is also 'partly right': the situation of San Teresa which has over 5 hundred thousand Semanian immigrants but doesn't have a single Semanian police officer is getting to a critical point.

Semanian matters can only be understood by Semanians.

That saying is true, ever more so for Matoba who has experienced it himself.

What is surprising instead is Tilarna.

Matoba who's reluctantly given up before his bosses could only hope that the Semanian would vehemently reject him. Yet, Tilarna agreed to partner with him. To her, taking back the fairy is probably her first priority. Tilarna Exedilika told his bosses as long as she can agree that 'Kei Imatuba is an excellent bolice warrior as they've told her.', she will work with him as a 'guide' for the time being.

Mind your own business.

We're hating each other anyway, shouldn't you have just cut the tie there and have nothing to do with each other?

He didn't say anything, but Kei Matoba was emitting aura of displeasure from his whole body while leaving the Director's room behind. After he left Tilarna to wait in the break room on tenth floor, he fetched the thick file of people with criminal records from the archival department and forced it to her.

"What's this?"

"Just skim over it. I have something to take care of."

He said just that and left Tilarna heading to the office.

While the office of Special Vice Squad is on the tenth floor of the same building, it's not written on the floor map. The office entrance door is also the same, the only thing on the inconspicuously plain door is a plate read 'Document Control Department'. Because they do things like organised crime investigation and sting operation, the security has to be high.

Detectives in this department too, when they go on duty, won't leave through the front entrance of the police department, but will leave through a 'for staff only' exit of a underground train station a block away which is connected to the department building with a underground passage. Even if it seems like imitating a secret base of some spy movie, but it's a necessary precaution to avoid their 'colleagues' from seeing detectives with cover likes drug dealer or conman openly walking in and out of the police department building.

He walked into the office of the Special Vice Squad.

The office is just like any office of a normal San Teresa police detective unit. There are 18 tables partitioned with light blue boards, on each table, other than the old PC, are favourite belongings of each table owner. On the wall are things like calendar, work schedule, and attendance records. The far side of the room is sectioned off with a glass wall, that's the office for boss Roth.

He walked into his detective colleagues working in the office. He had to listen to more than five times of 'Sorry about Rick.', and every time, with almost super human stoicism, he replied with 'Ah, me too.'.

The sixth person was detective Tony McBee, he came and clung to Matoba, crying his eyes out, tears falling like a leaking pipe as if he's going to die from grief. He said the most obvious thing while crying, 'It's terrible! You must also be very sad, Kei.'. Tony was a very good person, but he's also gay, that's why when he rubbed Matoba's shoulder to console him he felt quite embarrassed.

He began collecting Rick Fury's personal belongings.

There were mountain of things to think about, but he shut all those sentimentality away. If he want to avenge his friend, he must leave all those thought behind. He continue putting Rick's personal belongings into an uninteresting cardboard box. Golf trophy, family picture, unfinished novel, an old iPod, shoe polishing kit, et cetera, et cetera.....

It took him around an hour to finish the paperwork and gathering things. Matoba left the office and returned to the waiting room he left Tilarna in. The passed by officers, with no exception, look at her with curious eyes.

"See any face you know?"

"None."

Tilarna placed the bulky file on her lap and answered indifferently.

"There are around 50 files like this from A to Z. See there? It's in that room. I give you three days, look through all of that, easy right?"

Tilarna indignantly responded.

"So you can use all that time to work on whatever you like, right?"

"That's not the thing you should care."

"Are you harassing me with this low-grade trick, Kei Imatuba? Don't misunderstand, although I said I would work with you, I've never said I would obey your order."

"Is that so?"

"And I'm not going to go through more of these lists of vulgar faces any more. I'm also not such a country bumpkin that these pictures would seem strange. You're taking me with you."

It really came down to this.

Matoba shrugged his shoulders and walked down the corridor.

"If that's the case then come, we're going to see it together."

"See what?"

"Zombie."


San Teresa Coroner's Office is located opposite of the city police department. By crossing the Blueber street, it can be reached in 30 seconds. It doesn't even require the aforementioned underground passage, it can be reached just by exiting through the department building back exit and crossing a midday street. Tilarna followed Matoba without saying anything.

The Coroner's Office is a four storeys building built from bricks, its basement functions as a morgue. The man with the "peace symbol" shirt that was shot by Matoba yesterday night is still being kept here.

The body was brought out from one of the lockers that make you think of filing cabinet. After taking a look at the dead body that has turned pale white, coroner Cecil Epps said.

"Just in time before I send him away."

Cecil was a young coroner. She had just started working in the San Teresa Police Department for about two years. She's still in her 20s, she wore her white gown over a dark suit, her brown hair was cut in an orderly short bob. Her appearance, her looks, and her manner of speech were cheerful. It wouldn't be embarrassing to compare her beauty to gravure idol[1], but due to the nature of her work, her skin was bluish white.

"Want to try examining him?"

"No, thanks. I've already read the report."

"That's so? There's no mistake, he died from the 9 mm bullets you shot. There are multiple gunshot wounds, one complete penetration, two stuck near appendix. Finding all those bullet fragments is quite troublesome, you know? If you can, can you use other type of bullet next time?"

"I'll think about it, Cecil."

Even if he said it like that, Matoba has no intention to stop using bullets with high lethality like hollow-point. Because with just one misstep, he himself might be the one who is on the table now instead. Although he resolved himself that he might be killed by some heinous criminal due to bad luck someday, he still cannot live with maybe having Cecil, in this coroner's office, cut his belly open and taking his organs out or measuring his son's length. That's one of the unspeakable reasons he didn't have a long relationship with her, he can't cope with that feeling.

Tilarna unfeelingly looked down at the dead body of the Filipino. He thought she would be a little shaken, but there's no visible fear or disgust in her face that can be seen from the side, she also doesn't seem to be trying to put up a brave face.

Probably because she's already accustomed to it?

Otherwise she wouldn't be this composed in front of a corpse in this condition.

".......So? Didn't you specifically coming to this haunted house because you have something to check?"

Said Cecil

"I want to confirm that he really ran for two kilometres after I shot him."

"You want to know the possibility of someone moving the body after he's dead?"

"Ah."

"If it's that then noway. He definitely ran with his own legs for two kilometres and died there."

"Fumu."

"The readings on concentration of lactic acid and oxygen were interesting. From the calculation, from the moment you shot him, he's clinically 'dead' after he ran for 500 metres, and he still continued running after that for 1500 metres."

"Like a zombie."

"This June there will be a forensic medicine seminar about Semani, can I use this case?"

"Do as you please. Any trace of drug use?"

"None. He drank a little beer, there is a mush of chicken, tomato, and cheese in his stomach, other than that there's some bread, probably from a pizza or hamburger."

While talking about nauseating things, Cecil looked at the clock on the wall.

"Talking about food, I still haven't had lunch. Wanna go grab something to eat after this?"

"Sorry, maybe next time."

"Is that so. That's unfortunate."

Having said that Cecil reached for the zip of the body bag, her delicate fingertips had a purple tinge, probably from ninhydrin or something. It's a special fluorescent chemical used to lift fingerprints from corpse. From what he's heard, once it stains you, it won't come off for three days even if you try to scrub it off.

"At any rate, there's no drug involved."

"I wonder about that."

Tilarna who had remained silent until now suddenly said that. Cecil, as if noticing existence of the girl for the first time, looked closely at the snow white face of the Semanian.

"Uhh? Excuse me, who might this beautiful young lady be?"

"A noble from the that side. She come to find the fairy that dead guy over there kidnapped."

"I see. I'm Cecil Epps. I'll be in your care, young lady."

"It's Exedilika, not young lady. .....I don't know about dorini drug, but there's a scent of fairyFiel coming from that man."

Tilarna looked at the face of the dead body protruded from the opening of body bag and said that.

"Scent?"

"That's right. Scent of 『lartena』 from Fiel."

"Uh..... this lartena thing is?"

Cecil sniffed around, trying to find the scent.

"Lartena is lartena."

"I can't understand it with that...."

When he noticed the questioning look Cecil gave him, Matoba said.

"I also don't quite understand it, but seems like it is the source of magical power for Semanians."

"Ah, like mana."

Cecil easily understood.

"Mana? What's that?"

"You've never played fantasy RPG, Kei? There often is magical power like that."

"Haven't heard of them."

Matoba never had any interest in those kind of games. He's the kind of man that thinks about 'hollow point' when he hears HP, and 'military police' when he hears MP. There's noway he knows about the word like that.

"......So? How do you smell this lartena? If we can follow the scent and track down the fairy that would be great, we can have K9 sniffs this corpse and let it loose in the city."

After Matoba siad that, Tilarna sighed with a hint of disdain.

"Are you stupid? I said 'scent' to convey the closest meaning in your dorini's language. If I must use other word it probably be 'feeling'. It's not something that can sense with your nose."

"That's the case? Then how did you know?"

"It's a matter of course for magic usermildiitar."

Tilarna spoke with a clear face.

"You can use magic?"

"A little."

"Fumu, then can you use that magic to find whereabout of the culprit, things would be settled in that case."

Tilarna didn't get angry by Matoba's sarcasm, instead she looked at him with pity from the bottom of her heart.

"Aren't you quite an unimaginative one, Kei Imatuba. What you asked for, If I were to compare it to dorini's tools, is like asking me to 'use frying pan to write a letter'. The artsmildi may have a wide range of applications, but it's not almighty, drill that into your thick skull."

"As you ordered, your excellency. Your useless highness, this one will maybe humbly engrave your kind word in this one's heart."

Tilarna scowled at him, but Matoba ignored her. Cecil remained an onlooker without flustered even after she noticed the worsening mood, instead she looked at Matoba with great interested and spoke in a out of tune voice.

"Eh? You guys don't get along?"

"If you see it like that then it's that."

"If you mean do I hate this man, the answer is yes."

"Ah, I see."

Cecil nodded and pointed to the body on the rack.

"So? Put that aside for a moment, what exactly is the 'scent of fairy lartena' that comes from the dead body? We still haven't finished that conversation."

When reminded of an important matter, Matoba and Tilarna guiltily cleared their throat.


What Tilarna pointed out was the matter of 'Fairy Dust'.

That meant the dead Filipino was addicted to Fairy Dust.

Fairy Dust is a strange drug that uses Semanian fairy as ingredient. While the effects differ depending on the recipe, most of them cause euphoria and hallucination. There's also saying that it can numb pain, instantaneously increase cognitive function, decrease reaction time and sharply increase athletic ability.

But it lives up to its narcotic name, Fairy Dust is highly addictive.

There might not be much difference after using it a couple of times, but the frequent user will have various withdrawal symptoms like headache, nausea, paranoid, or confusion. While there's no guarantee that there will be any one of those symptoms, the remarkable one is extreme lethargy. The dead Filipino also had the symptoms, but Matoba didn't see through him.

From what Tilarna told, to use the 'human manipulating' arts to the point of showing inhuman strength and killing people, the one who get manipulated must be a Fairy Dust addict.

It's a very intriguing story, but not a direct lead that they can use.

Matoba went back to the city police department and started relentlessly interrogating Filipino with '5-0' T-shirt.

He quickly confessed after being pressured.

He told them that they stole the fairy from a Colombian gang's car.


".....In short, we just need to press those Colombian gangsters about the fairy right?"

Tilarna got into the front passenger's seat of Cooper S and said that. This time she took her scabbard off before smoothly getting in and closed the door.

"Ah, it's roughly as you said."

"Where are those gangsters?"

"We need to locate them from here on."

Tilarna Exedilika followed him as if it's natural, get in the car as if it's natural, and then ask ask him questions as if it's natural. He's such a amicable person for going out of his way to answer her, while thinking that, Matoba suddenly accelerated the car.

"Nyuuu...."

The Semanian made strange sound again.

She kept a composed face, but she also pressed herself against the seat, eyes staring straight ahead, and hands tightly held on to her sabre.

He had been thinking since when he brought her from the Coast Guard base to the police department————

(Perhaps this girl is not good with car?)

Semani does have animals akin to horses, so they also have something like a carriage over there. But how fast can those carriages exactly go? Noway those things can do 80 km/h, they probably can't even do 50 km/h, at best they might be able to do 20 to 30 km/h. She probably doesn't have experience with speed of human world vehicles.

"I see."

Matoba mumbled and shifted to fifth gear.

As he stepped on the accelerator pedal, the supercharger roared, accelerated the car even more. He weaved left and right through the traffic, recklessly overtaking trucks and sedans on the road, leaving the sound of brake and blaring horn in his wake. He paid attention to neither traffic lights nor road signs, view outside the car windows blurred into a gust of wind.

"Suu......!"

Tilarna's fingertips that were already white, turned even whiter from clenching her sabre scabbard. Matoba glanced at her and said.

"I'm in a hurry, just tell me if you're scare."

He briefly told her so.

"S, Scare? Don't say stupid thing. You can go h.... however fast you l... like!"

Tilarna said so while watching a truck barely missed their side mirror.

"As you command. .....Right, right, we need some music in time like this."

He turned car stereo on, 80s hard rock music started loudly playing its intense beats and violent melody. He's been feeling frustrated since yesterday, but it's finally returning to normal again. It's a good feeling.

While Tilarna had to cover her ears.

"What's this noise pollution!?"

She shouted to the point of almost screaming.

"It's rock!"

"What!?"

"It's a neccessity for barbariansdorini! How's it? Interesting, right!"

Matoba shouted back while hitting steering wheel to the tune of the drums.


As they travelled from New Guines St. to Madila St., the time was already 3 p.m.

They enter the area west of San Teresa called 'Seven Miles'. The one in charge of this area is the Substation 7 of STPD, they're responsible for the area from north to south over the distance of seven miles. There're various gangs struggle for control over the area, to the point that they have to update gang spheres of influence map on a monthly basis.

In short, it's not the part of town meant for tourists.

Matoba stopped his car in front of the destination club and turned to closely look at Tilarna's pallid face.

"It really stands out."

"What's it?"

Said Tilarna with dark circles under her eyes.

"It's you. How should I put it.... you're super white, even whiter than white man. What did you eat to get this white? Your country has magic hot spring or something?"

"Don't know. I'm like this since I was born."

"Your clothes are also white. It looks really out of this world."

"Even if it's elegant, your grubby outfit is worrying."

Tilarna's tunic and cloak certainly are designed to complement each other. They look like what a 70s funk singer would wear, decorated with expressive geometric pattern. Those who are used to seeing Semanian immigrants wouldn't think it's strange or anything.

Nevertheless, it's conspicuous.

That beauty, youth, attire, everything is conspicuous. Taking this girl anywhere would only unnecessarily attract people's attention.

"Wait here. .....Even if I say that you wouldn't listen, would you?"

"Of course."

Matoba sighed.

"Then do as you please. Just try to keep some distance from me when walking. Don't want anyone to think we're friends."

"That applies to me too. Don't talk to me unnecessarily."

"Hm."

He got out of the car and headed toward the club. Tilarna distantly followed him.

The sun is still high up in the sky. Neon signs depicting cheap-looking lady legs and the club's name 'Lady Shepherd' are not turned on yet, a 'CLOSED' sign is hung on the doorknob of a glass door. When he entered the shop Tilarna muttered 『quenisba...』 behind him. It's a Farbarnian word that should have a meaning of 'awful', 'bad taste' or something like that.

As they entered the dimly lit club, a black man in suit weighing around 120 kilograms lumbered toward them. He's this club's bouncer.

"The club is open from 1700, come back lat———"

Saying just that, he noticed Matoba's sullen face.

"Oh, excuse me, samurai officer."

"Kenny, is O'Neal here?"

"He is, well, he's on the phone over there. ....that bitch over there is?"

Giant Kenny glanced at Tilarna and knitted his brows.

"Don't mind her."

"Oioi, isn't she an alien? I hate those guys the most."

"Do what you like, I'll pass."

Tilarna quickly tried to follow Matoba who had walked past Kenny, but Kenny blocked her.

"Wait, young girl."

"What?"

"It's not an issue for Mr. Motoba, but you have to wait outside."

It's getting interesting, Matoba thought.

Facing scary Kenny who's over three times her weight, what will be this girl reaction? It would be great if she's intimidated without any trouble. While he's not particularly trying to harass her, if Tilarna's intimidated by Kenny he can then say to her 'this city has that sort of guy all over the place. You better go back and wait at the department.'. That way he can be absolved from this babysitter duty.

Tilarna stood her ground, looking up at Kenny, who's much taller than her, face.

"Can't hear me, young girl? Quickly turn right and———"

Tilarna abruptly pivoted to the right, with silver light flashed from her scabbard. A gust from blade cut through the air, the clear delightful *ching* metallic sound reverberated, and the narrow bladed sabre went back to its scabbard.

"Tsu....."

Kenny stood paralysed. A moment later his necktie from the knot down separated, gently falling down to the ground.



"Turn right and then?"

"....This way, miss."

"Good."

Tilarna walked past Kenny as if nothing happened. The bouncer grumbled 'Damn, that was a 150 dollars tie you know?' openly.

"You thought I was going to cry for your help?"

Tilarna looked at Matoba's face and said so. Her eyes said more along the line of 'You're underestimating me.' than proud with herself.

"No.... Well, kinda that."

That went unexpectedly.

He thought that she would be skilful with sabre, but never thought she would be able to deal with a macho like Kenny that easily. If he judged her just from her young outward appearance, he's going to have a painful experience.

"I'm an apprentice knight of Mirvor, don't lump me together with your normal children."

"So you're aware that you look like a child."

"I... I'm just a late bloomer! Don't say something so rude!"

"Hmm."

Seems like his little scheme will end up in failure, he gives up and walks inside the club, he has some business with the club owner O'Neal.

He passed through the gap between the rows of upside-down chairs stacked on the tables, the cubicle inside had a black man in priest's cassock. That chap is O'Neal, he shaved his head like a monk, wearing a pair of round sunglasses. On the table were a laptop and stacks of 1000 dollar bills.

"....Um, that's right! It's going to be a great venture! You understand right? For 50 of those sinners' 50-inch LCD monitors to fall into our hands, that must be the will of the God. If I have to say, It's like we're on the summit of Mount Etna and———"

He talked to that point when the skinhead in priest's garb realized Matoba and Tilarna were there and softened his tone. He's probably still on business discussion about stolen goods.

".....Ah. Um, that 50 thing I was talking about, it was an analogy, it's not real. ......Ah, that's not it. .....I'll explain it to you later. The business thing is also the same, it's an analogy to most of the elements in theology. ......Ah, please have some understanding. Well, well, customer's here. May God bless you! Adieu!"

He one-sidedly cut the call and turned to look up at Matoba like nothing happened.

"Amen! I sincerely apologize, detective Matoba! Have you sensed the breath of God today? Look like lovely young lady over there is a Semanian. .....Welcome to my place of devotion! Come, take it slow, make yourselves at home. Want something to drink?"

"Looks like business's doing well, O'Neal."

That man———Bis O'Neal calmly put his phone away and sat himself up straight on the fluffy sofa. He's a self-proclaimed pastor and is involved in many shady businesses, but he's well informed on the underground world's matters, that's why Matoba frequently 'use' him as an informant.

"Nothing is well about it, saying such a bitter matter!"

O'Neal put his hand on his chest and looked up to the ceiling.

"Detective Matoba, haven't you read the newspaper? San Teresa's unemployment rate is soaring, its finance is in turmoil, even crime rate is increasing, isn't it? For the servant of God who endeavours to share burden and suffering of people in such a place, it's far from doing well!"

"Is that so? But I've heard, what? Something about 50 of 50-inch monitors or something?"

"With all due respect, that's all in your head. You're still way too young to hear and understand words of God."

"Want to talk to Substation 7's larceny department instead then?"

Matoba slammed both his hands on the table with a bang and looked through O'Neal's sunglasses.

"Hmm!"

O'Neal knitted his brows and for some reason, muttered something to himself while nodding.

"If I can be of aid to you, I'll give you what consultation I can, confession or whatever. Talk to me, do you want to hear words of light?"

"O'Neal, for me.."

Matoba grimaced.

"I hate these tiresome pleasantries and conversations going in circles the most. You may want to have a religious debate, but just leave me out of that."

"That's deeply regrettable. Ah, I hate solving problem with violence, to hear a San Teresa's peace keeper says something like this! I cannot help but say it's lamentable."

"Just shut up."

Matoba cut him off.

"I'm searching for a Colombian, probably driving the recent model of Mitsubishi Pajero. Seems like they're trading goods from the 'Gate'. A few days ago they transported or bought a 'fairy' from that side."

Matoba told him the details he heard from the surviving Filipino.

"Hou?"

"It's like this, if you know something about this, your business will thrive as your God willed. But if you don't, the 'Goddess of the Court' holding sword and scales will summon you about those splendid 50-inch monitors, understand?"

"Crystal clear, detective Matoba. But if you keep acting like that your heart will fall into Satan's hands, detective Matoba!"

"My home town believes in Tendai[1], don't know about those Satan or whatnot."

"And they say Buddhists are gentle.... I've heard that they even got driven out by heretics from other place."

"I'm being serious here, either you know or you don't, make it clear."

"Well, it's not like I don't know."

"Hou."

"The Colombians who are in and out of this 'church' are industrious and moral workers. But there're also some that come and go between here and Semani. Among them...."

"There are, right?"

"Hmm, yes. But they're a violent bunch. So I need you to guarantee something in return, because if those guys knew I was the one giving their name, they might do some unreasonable thing to this sacred sanctuary, this dazzling place of God's guidance. Particularly, can you make them unable to do their business for about a month or so?"

"In my case I would make them never come back to doing business again. Wanna see it for yourself?"

"I thought you would say so, brother!"

O'Neal mumbled and picked a white napkin up from the table, he then waved it flutteringly in front of himself.


"That's just like a dirione."

Said Tilarna in the front passenger's seat. After they got some general information from pastor O'Neal, they got back to their car and drove off.

"Dirione?"

He thought he'd heard of it somewhere before, but couldn't pinpoint it.

"Your conversation with that 'priest'. It's 'skit' in your words right? That's it. It reminded me of a unpopular dirione."

"Was it funny?"

"No, it's super boring."

"Is that so?"

Without any particular reason, Matoba turned the steering wheel and cut through the junction. It's already past 5 p.m., the sight of parched street is slowly dyed with the colour of twilight.

"That O'Neal guy, he's special. I have worked with many informants..... But that guy is quite a weird type."

"That's the case?"

"Keep this between us. O'Neal might be a criminal, but he hates killings and narcotics. Even if he sometimes organise dubious seminars or fund raising or be a middleman for questionable goods, he's still fairly trustworthy. You can't really hate him."

"I couldn't see him as anything but a petty thief though?"

Tilarna coldly said.

"Well, what you've said is not wrong."

"If that's the case, then why must you rely on that kind of guy?"

"Because it's necessary."

"I do not think so."

Semanian knight raised her voice.

"Kei Imatuba, I can tolerate your rude manner and harassments, 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do' I can understand that. But this I cannot understand. Aren't you bolice the enforcer of justice? I've heard that, unlike the military, bolice helps people and vanquishes evils. I've heard that dorinies also have warriors like that, that's why I had some hope. But this...."

Tilarna's throat made a gulping motion.

"Making a deal with criminal? Turning a blind eye to their wrongdoing? I can't believe it. Don't you bolice have any pride?"

"........."

He couldn't respond with a snicker like before. The tone of her voice was too serious to be dismissed with just the word 'naive'.

It's as Tilarna said.

Originally, police should be like that.

"It's complicated."

Matoba tried to explain.

"Helping everyone, vanquishing evils, there was a time like that, but now..... Um, it's exceedingly complicated."

"I don't understand."

"We all don't."

The car two of them were in continued running along the road.

As they speeded out of a junction, Matoba softly released the clutch. For the person who abused accelerator pedal on the way to the district to harass person in the front passenger's seat, it's a very gentle way of shifting gear.



⛌⛌⛌⚖⚔⚖⚔⚖⛌⛌⛌



1.A model for magazine, usually targeted at male audiences.

2.A sect of Buddhism in Japan.





Translator's Note

I took the liberty to change the position of illustrations relative to the text to match the scene better.


Finally done with chapter 3! This took wayyyy longer than I expected, partly due to my Christmas/New Year family trip, I was travelling and couldn't translate much. While it's a little late, I hope this year will be a great year for everyone! Thank you for your patient, see you next time!





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Tuesday 7 January 2020

Vol. 1 Illustrations

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Volume 1

Illustrations

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Sunday 1 December 2019

Vol. 1 Chapter 2 (2/2)

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Chapter 2

(2/2)

"My name is Tilarna·Balsh·Mirvor·Lata═Imsedaria·Ye·Teberena·Divor═Nerano·Seya·Neru·Exedilika. .....It means 『The daughter of Exedilika family, firstborn daughter of Seya, descendant of archduke Divor, apprentice knight under the glorious order of Mirvor, Tilarna』 in you dorini's English, do you understand? Now, what's your name?"

"Kei Matoba."

"Kei Imatuba?"

For some reason, the girl knited her eyebrows.

"It's Kei Matoba. San Teresa Police Department sergeant and detective, special vice squad."

"Is that your full name? Kei·Matoba═San·Teresa·Bolice·Debartment═Sergeant═And·Detective═Sbecial·Vice·Squad?"

Farbanian language doesn't have the sound 'P'. That's why when the Semanians that were raised on that side try to speak this side's language the words like 'police' will be pronouced more like 'bolice' instead.

"No, that's not it. My full name is only Kei Matoba."

"So short."

The Semanian girl openly displays a scornful expression.

"Is it strange?"

"No, the lowborns having a short name is a normal thing, I do not pay any attention. Normally I go by Tilarna Exedilika."

The girl's thin bladed sabre made a short metallic sound as it goes back into the scabbard in a blink of an eye. From that small body and thin arms were the skillful use of the blade he didn't imagine is possible.

"You are the first conversation partner since I came to the dorini's land. Therefore, as an exception I shall specially permit you to call me 'Bona·Tilarna'. Be grateful."

'Bona' would be roughly translated as 'Miss' in English.

"Then, carry my luggage to where it will not be hit by these salty breeze, Kei Imatuba."

"It's Kei Matoba."

"Whatever your name is. Just hurry up and carry the luggage."

The Semanian noble——— Tilarna·(omitted)·Exedilika, without a care, arbitrarily walked into the boat's cabin.


Inside the boat on the way back to San Teresa, Matoba desperately tries to suppress the feeling of boiling anger in his stomach.

I'm supposed to be a detective, you know?

Not only does he have to become a sham diplomat, now he's also stuck with being a babysitter.

That Tilarna or something girl, no matter how you look at her, at most she would look like a middle schooler. Well, it's true that Semanians tend to look quite a bit younger than their age would otherwise suggest. Even if a Semanian is 45 years old, they would look similar to a 30 years old Earthling. Furthermore, one Semanian year is shorter than one Earth year, therefore a 45 years old person according to 'Semani year' would be about 36 years old in 'Earth year'. It's a remarkably complex subject. In addition, as stated in the treaty between Earth and Semani, this side must treat them with respect to their age in 'Semani Year'.

In the documents Tilarna brought with her, it was written that her age is '27 years old (Semani year)'.

(Convert to this side year would be....)

After he did some rough algebra in his head, she should be around 20. At least she's more or less legally an adult.

He takes a glance at the side of Tilarna's face.

Still, however he looks, she looks to be around 13-14 years old.

Why does he have to waste his time escorting this girl? Especially now that he want to hurry and continue his work tracking down the one who killed Rick as soon as possible.

Well, she's a beautiful girl. That much is clear just by looking at the behaviour of the crews, most of those who're free from work would find some sort of excuse just to take a peek at Tilarna on the bridge at least once.

Certainly, Tilarna is genuinely beautiful.

You can call it a beauty coming straight out of CGI. There's almost no imperfection to speak of, an ethereal beauty. That's what makes Matoba wary. If a thing likes beauty without favourable impression were to exist, surely that thing would be the quality this girl possesses.

Tilarna was sitting arrogantly in the seat on the bridge.

Perhaps due to boredom or something, she soon started looking around curiously at the various instruments installed on the bridge—— such as the navigation instrument, the communication equipment, and radar control panel. Every time she reaches her hand to the switch or dial on the control panel, Matoba has to warn her with 'don't touch it' everytime.

"Why can't I touch it?"

After the fourth 'don't touch it', Tilarna asked in displeasure.

"Because that's the reset switch for the navigation equipment's connector."

"Reset switch? What's that?"

"It's for resetting all the data configurations and returning the navigation data to initial value.... Ah—— anyway, just know that it will break and reset everything."

"Can't understand at all."

"Just don't touch it."

Tilarna then, for some reason, talked in admonishing tone.

"Listen here, Kei Imatuba is it? I'm not boasting here, but I'm a person of very high status. While it may be true that the lowborn person such as yourself has things that cannot be touched, but there are not that many things that I'm not allowed to touch."

"I'm not following...."

"I'm saying that, even if I touches it, this device won't be tarnished. Not only that, my guardian spirit is the third apostle of Kizenya. My fingertips might even have Latina dwelling in them."

"I don't know what's that third apostle or whatnot, but I kinda understand what you meant."

Perhaps she didn't notice the sarcasm in Matoba's respond, Tilarna smiled a little on her face.

"So you understand? Then don't forbid me from touching anything again."

Having said that she then reached her hand toward digital navigation instrument.

"Don't touch it."

"Muu...."

"Don't touch it, it's not about tarnish or blessing or anything. In any case, don't touch it."

He said in a firm tone. The girl intently stared at Matoba for several seconds. Before long, maybe she think it's no use arguing with him, she looks out the window without saying anything.

He feels a little guilty, maybe he's too harsh to a child opponent.

(No, no, wait a second.)

Even if she seems so, this alien is not a child. Even if wanting to play around with the things on the boat she's on the first time might seems like children behaviour, she's definitely not one.

There's no need to pity her. She can hate all she want, we won't be together in a few hours anyway.

Getting her to the car at the pier, heads into the city, and guides her through the elevator to the 14th floor of the police department building. That should be all there is to their relationship.

That's what he thought at that time.


After they disembarked at the Coast Guard base and passed through some brief document check, Matoba carried Tilarna's luggage to his car. Maybe the incident on the boat still leaves a bad taste in her mouth, Tilarna, without helping him, looks at the scenery of the port with distrustful eyes.

"Let's go. Get in the car."

He slammed the car's boot closed and jerked his chin to the front passenger's seat. Tilarna stood still in front of the car's door and kept staring at the door handle.

"Don't tell me you don't know how to open the door?"

".....No."

Matoba sat in the driver's seat and started the engine. Tilarna still stands there, her eyes focus on the slightly vibrating bonnet.

Even if it's true that, to the Semanians that don't have culture of industry, car is a strange being, but it shouldn't be to the point of 'never seen before tool'. Because a few Earthlings that live on that side should be using cars in their daily lives. More importantly, if internal combustion engine is really that strange, her eyes would be popping out by the time she boarded the Coast Guard's boat.

"Just hurry up and get in. You should know about the car already, shouldn't you?"

"O....of course! Are you an idiotrakebai?[1]"

After saying that, Tilarna clumsily opened the door and tried to get into the front passenger's seat.

At that moment, the scabbard on her waist bumped into the door. Suddenly losing her balance, the girl stumbled head first to the driver's seat, her face collide with Matoba's abdomen.

"Unyuuu..."

The Semanian made strange sound.

Tilarna, lying face down between Matoba's legs, is not moving at all for several seconds. He also doesn't know how should he respond, so he stiffly sits there, clutching the steering wheel.

".....Oi"

After he said that, Tilarna got up, corrected her posture and acted like nothing had happened. Her porcelain white cheek is slightly blushing, he's also feeling awkward so he pretends to not see it.

She took the scabbard that's stuck with the door off along with her belt and shoved it into the car before closing the door.

"P....pay no attention. Let's go."

Saying just that, Tilarna turns her face away to look outside the window.

"Door isn't closed."

"W....what's it?"

"The door wasn't closed properly. Can you open the door again, and close it forcefully?"

"Is that so? I understand."

Tilarna closes the door again as instructed.

"Let's go."

He drives his Cooper S off. After they left Coast Guard base, they headed from the harbour district to the city centre. Tilarna only looked outside the window, never once did she look Matoba's way.

Having almost no conversation that can really be called a conversation between them, they arrived at the 15-floors police department building, then he took Tilarna to the director's office on the 14th floor.

Director and boss Roth are waiting for them.

"We're expecting you, Miss Exedilika."

Director grandiosely gestures with his hands and body, welcoming Tilarna with excessively ceremonial words, and ends his speech wishing that her visit this time will be worthwhile. On the other hand Roth simply says 'Welcome to San Teresa' only.

There's no reaction to the young appearance of Tilarna. These two must've known who's the Semanian visiting beforehand.

"Thank you for your hard work, sergeant Matoba."

"I've already brought her here. Well, if you will excuse me."

After he half-heartedly responded to director's thanks, Matoba quickly tried to leave the room. This is not the time to be worried about some weird Semanian girl. His mind is already thinking about finding who killed Rick.

But his boss Roth called him to stop.

"We aren't finished yet."

"What's it?"

"It's about her."

"?"

While still gripping the door knob, Matoba deeply furrows his brow.

"Is there anything more about young lady about there, sir? If it's about sightseeing guide, can't you use someone from the admin office? She's quite fluent in English anyway."

"Don't say something so disrespectful, sergeant Matoba! This is absolutely not about sightseeing guide."

Director angrily said that, before turning around and, in obsequious tone, told Tilarna with his smattering Farbanian 'excuse us, this man simply doesn't understand the circumstances.'.

"Then what's it?"

"She's also tracking down that fairy."

Said Roth.

"It's the fairy that was snatched from you yesterday, seems like it wasn't just a normal fairy."

"She's Fiel. Fiel·Queze·Badeli."

Tilarna corrected him.

"In your English it has the meaning of 'Great High Fairy'. She lives in the 'Forest of Perpetual Night', west of Farbani. She's an important Fiel of a powerful clan."

"Ahh— ...meaning?"

Although Matoba can speak Farbanian to some degree, he's not familiar with these kind of words and phrases. In truth, most of the Farbanian he knows are words like 'Do not move!', 'Freeze!', 'You're under arrest.' or 'I'm going to kick your asses.'.

Director further explained.

"Meaning, that fairy is an important person from a powerful clan in Semani. She was kidnapped from that side since 7 days ago. The only thing we know is that some smuggler brought her to this side. And this lady Exedilika was sent to protect that fairy according to the Semani's order of knights's instruction .....is that correct, ma'am?"

"It's roughly as you said."

Tilarna·Exedilika arrogantly puffed her chest out and nodded.

"As per the agreement between the Kingdom of Farbani and the country of United Nations, knights of Mirvor, including apprentice knights, are permitted to enforce justice in dorini world. For the sake of protecting the Great High Fiel, I, in the name of the king of Farbani, formally request your support in my investigation."

".....So, it's as she said."

"I see. ....And, that agreement or something, how does it have anything to do with me staying here?"

"You're going to work with her."

Roth said.

"What?"

"You're going to do the investigation with her."

Matoba stood there stupidly for a moment.

"Me? With this alien?"

"That's discriminatory, sergeant Matoba. Call her Miss Exedilika."

Director's order doesn't reach Matoba's ears at all.

"Can't you stop this already? My 4-years partner got killed just half a day ago, even other detectives are working at this very moment. Why do you have to push all these troublesome works only to me again? Boss, don't you want to find the one who killed Rick at all?"

Matoba said that in anger, Roth immediately walked up to him and looked him in the eyes.

"Matoba, say that again, and this time look me in the eyes."

His voice is trembling with suppressed fury, his normally cold eyes flicker in zealous flame. There's no way boss doesn't want to catch the one who killed Rick.

"Then why don't you let me concentrate on my work?"

"I've never said you can't concentrate on your work."

"That's easier said than done, you know?"

"That's your problem. A case involving Semanians also has things that can only be understood by Semanians. There might be a need to do things like this again in the future. You liking her or not is not important now."

In this San Teresa Police Department, there's never been even a single Semanian police officer since the foundation of the department 10 years ago when this city stopped being under the control of United Nations military. Because it's universally recognised that the law on the Earth side should be enforced by Earthlings, which is done until today.

"I see, so I'm the guinea pig?"

"If you understand and call it like that that's your problem, if you still don't like it you can turn in your badge right this moment."

"So that's the order. Even if I say 'go eat shit', can I even deny it?"

"You can try. But even if it's you, I won't go easy you know?."

The two detectives glared directly at each other, none of them spoke for a while.

Director uncomfortably sat down on the sofa and feeling around his pockets searching for his cigarettes. The other onlooker—— Tilarna·Exedilika watched Matoba and Roth with indifferent eyes, before loudly cleared her throat.

"Dispute between fellow dorinies is not my business. But———"

Said Tilarna.

"——it seems like you are ignoring my thought on the matter. Among the bolicemen here, I have no intention to partner with anyone but the experienced, valorous, well-mannered, and resourceful warrior boliceman. That stubborn lowborn man over there, I do not think he fits my aforementioned criteria?"

"Alien, just shut up."

"Look, this! Shouldn't you just let this ill-mannered man go wherever he wants? Assigning this barbarian to guide me would just be equal to looking down on us Farbanian people."

Tilarna angrily said that. Looks like her accumulated displeasure since their meeting on the boat has finally exploded. She tried to be as threatening as much as her small body can be. While it's true that Matoba's behaviour is not a praiseworthy one, but it's not like it's to the point that it will become a diplomatic issue.

"But, Miss Exedilika....."

Director mumbled something, before looking to boss Roth for help.

Roth followed him up right away.

"While his manner might be as you said, but detective Matoba does meet all your other requirements. Within this San Teresa Police Department, he's one of our most excellent police officers. He solved a large number of difficult cases and received various decorations for saving lives, he also knows the city very well and has a lot of connection with the locals. Moreover, he used to be in the Army's Special Reconnaissance Unit, for that reason he's also very proficient in 'Art of War'."

"This man?"

Tilarna looked intently at Matoba's face again as if to closely reexamine him. Still, the only feeling can be seen on her eyes was disbelief.

"I cannot see what you said. More importantly, I———"

Boss cut in while Tilarna's in the middle of her sentence.

"If you want an officer who's well-mannered but useless in other ways, we can provide you with that. But don't expect that officer to help you protecting your important fairyFiel."

"........"

"Do you still think manner and outer appearance important? Frankly, we would like you to put aside your preference this time around."



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1.Yes, she said 'Baka'.





Translator's Note

That's it for the second chapter! I'll try to release next chapter as a whole chapter release so it might take a week or two longer than usual.





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Sunday 10 November 2019

Vol. 1 Chapter 2 (1/2)

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Chapter 2

(1/2)

The time was too late to be called morning.

After the boat has set sail at 8 AM from San Teresa, it has already been about an hour.

This place is almost on the equator, so the sun should've already been right above our heads, but the overcast sky has so much cloud that it doesn't look so bright. Under the skyline is the depressingly grey ocean, and the overcast sky is full of clouds dyed pink by the sun.

The 〈Golden Heart〉 boat that Matoba is currently on is one of the Coast Guard's small high-speed boats, there's a .50 calibre machine gun installed on its bow. The crew told me that if they need to, the boat can easily reach 50 knots (approximately 90 km/h).

On its stern are the flag of Kariana Autonomous Region under United Nations and the Stars and Stripes flag of the United States. Technically, Kariana Autonomous Region and its city, San Teresa, is 'under no country's jurisdiction', but in practice it's under the management of government of the United States. Like when Matoba wants to question arrested suspect, he has to read their Miranda Rights to them according to the precedent set by Miranda v. Arizona, because American citizens are the overwhelming majority, in addition, even if there are Japaneses like Matoba and immigrants from other countries, there is almost no Semanian, whether it's in the Coast Guard or the police.

"We're almost there."

One of the crews told Matoba who is standing on the port side of the deck, his hands are holding onto the guardrail trying his very best not to tumble onto the deck of the rocking boat.

〈Golden Heart〉 slowed down. The latitude here isn't even that different from Okinawa or Taiwan, but the ocean is freezingly cold and the sun cannot be seen on the sky. Moreover, the fog is starting to envelope the area. 10 minutes ago the skyline can still clearly be seen, now he can only see out to about 100 metres.


It's always like this near the 'Mirage Gate'.

Mirage Gate is a mysterious space that links the world on the other side and this side together.

But it's not like it's the thing that can be seen with naked eyes, nor does it stay in a specific place, nor is there only one place where the space like this appeared. Most of the time there are 10 places like this, but when there're a lot of them they can be over 50 scatter around the Kariana Island. The gates behave like a pressure centre on the weather map, constantly appear and disappear without anybody able to hypothesise the criteria for its appearance.

Only the Mirage Gate which appeared in the middle of the ocean 45 nautical miles southwest of San Teresa is different. Because it maintains its stability and appearance most of the time, it's being called 'Silk Road' and is the only place being accepted as formal trade route.

The high-speed boat came to a stop and turned its engine off.

On the surface of the ocean surrounded by fog, silent crept in. The only surface vessel in the area is their boat, 〈Golden Heart〉. There is only quite sound of waves. He can hear the footsteps of Coast Guard crews walking toward him on the deck.

Captain is walking toward Matoba who's leaning against the guardrail.

"Got seasick?"

"Ah, I'm okay sir."

"I'm impressed, some police gave up even before they're off the coast."

"I used to be a soldier."

"Hou."

"It's with the army, but there're often missions in the wetland, we had to use the boat until we're sick of it."

Captain looks at Matoba with great interest.

"Have you been to the other side?"

"Yes, I was there as a Peace Keeping ForcePKF, that's what it was called anyway. But the important thing is that when I crossed over to that side, I was packed into the transport plane. This is the first time I've ever seen the gate."

"Well, even if you say see, nobody can see the Mirage Gate anyhow."

Captain said while narrowing his eye as if trying to see through to the other side of the fog.

"In order to know the exact size and position of the Mirage Gate we need to analyse data from the observation satellites, it has its unique magnetic and infrared signature. We can never cross to the other side by relying only on our digital nautical chart and instrument on board."

"I've heard so too."

"But those aliens, they can cross without using any electronic equipment. They don't have the concept of electromagnetic wave, not even the concept of universal gravitation, but they can find the location of the gate just by reading the movement of wind and water current. Hell it's even more accurate than ours."

"That's why there is no decrease in Coast Guard's work, is it?"

"It's as you said, we don't have enough ship, and in these sea radar doesn't help very much at all. If we want to stop these swarms of smugglers and illegal immigrants we need more than double the budget and manpower we have now. There are only idiot shitheads in the autonomous region government ivory tower. It's much better back when we're fighting drug cartels in the Caribbean Sea"

While he's listening to the captain's rant, he fixedly looked to the side of the boat.

He thought he was hallucinating but it was not. On the other side of the atmosphere enveloped in fog, a gigantic shadow slowly emerged.

At first it looks like two spires towering over the ocean.

But when it's slowly closing in on them, they can make out that it's a huge sailing ship. It's a large catamaran with a mast on each hull. The masts tiled outward away from the twin hulls cast a complex shadow. Countless ropes dangle from the masts and yards, a number of them tying to the support braces creating a mysterious atmosphere like when a monster appears.

He can vaguely make out a silhouette moving around on the mast.

This type of ship never appear in the history of humankind, there's no mistake that this is a Semanian ship. On the sails a crest can be seen. It's a motif of a bird's eye, the crest of the Farbani royal family.

"The noble is here."

Captain whispered to him.

"Don't know how the hell do they use those masts to sail, maybe it's good for tight manoeuvring, but it doesn't seem to be able to hold out in strong wind. Seem like the material properties of the wood on that side is quite different from this side. Well, Those guys also say that this side ships instead that seem to capsize at a moment notice."

There are signal horn and bell sounded from the Semanian ship that's closing in.

They're probably stopping their ship. The crews on the ship are running around performing their task busily, the large sails are reefed according to the order, the rudders kicking up waves slowing the ship down. The ship came to a stop near the port side of the 〈Golden Heart〉 that Matoba's team is on with astonishing accuracy.

The ship's length is probably more than 3 times longer than the ship he's on. Both its size and its majesticness are overwhelming. He can now see faces of the crews that are looking down his way.

It doesn't have the feeling of being an old, disrepair ship like when it's seen from afar. It's a well maintained ship with a recently applied coat of paint.

The side of the hulls are decorated with a strange but elegant pattern, the circular carvings here and there remind him of 'Eyes' stoically watching him, those numerous 'Eyes' are glaring at their tiny little patrol boat.

The ship doesn't have any cannon. That's because Semanians don't know what a cannon is.

What's on the ship instead are large ballistas that seem like it would be good for sieging a castle, there're 15 of them on each side. The length of each ballista is equal to about two adults with their arms stretched out, the darts used are as tall as a grown man.

Even if it looks intimidating, the combined firepower of those ballistas is no match for one of this side's .50 calibre machine gun. At least as long as those ballistas and the ship hulls aren't enchanted with their artsmildi.

The ropes were thrown, and two vessels from different worlds are connected together alongside.

After some exchanges in Farbini and English, a ladder was lowered from the ship. The crews with nothing to do on that side look at this side's boat with curious eyes. Each of them wears only plain shirt and pants. They seem to whisper something to each other, point to this direction, and then laugh. They're probably talking in Farbanian, but their accent is so thick he couldn't make out what they're saying.

The captain who's busily preparing the ship to be boarded comes and taps Matoba on the shoulder.

"The noble's going to board soon, it's your job now."

The captain said.

After they carefully secured the unexpectedly sturdy ladder in place, a short whistle signal was given out, then one of the crews from that side boarded this side's boat. The person who boarded this side's boat is wearing a white cloak with small stature. He still cannot see their face because they still facing away from him, but he can see their blond hair, seems like they're still a child. They're probably the noble's retainer.

They use rope and pulley to transport several leather-covered box down to the boat, those are probably the luggage of said noble.

Speaking of him, when will that great important noble board anyway?———— Matoba thinks while looking up at the sailing ship, the petite retainer walked pass him.

The ship's bell sounded again. The crews shouted something and the ladder was lifted up.

"........?"

The VIP still haven't boarded their boat yet. What does this mean?

Before the eyes of Matoba who's making a confused face and the captain and his crews, the ladder was completely raised up.

"Oi"

The retainer said in fluent English.

No, not a retainer, on the contrary, not a man either.

"I'm apprentice knightbalsh of Mirvor, Exedilika, don't dorini have any etiquette for welcoming guest?"

A girl. She seems to be a girl in her early teen.

Her skin is white——— so white that it's as if there is not a drop of blood flowing under her skin. Her flowing golden blond hair looks like one perfect solid piece as though it's made from some kind of synthetic fibre. The high-class tunic she wears embroidered with elaborate design. Her cloak and tights don't have even a single stain on it. On her waist is a sheathed thin-bladed sabre. Her big eyes slanting slightly upward, reminding him of the cold and arrogant predatory felines. Her perfectly shaped lips pout in displeasure, not a fragment of loveliness left.

On the surface of the ocean enveloped in greyish atmosphere, only the area surrounding this girl seems to be in a different world.

Alien.

Up until now he has seen many Semanians, but he has never seen anyone giving a feeling of 'mythical creature' as this girl before. Rather, this girl existence is similar to that shining fairy in a glass jar.

Is this person that VIP noble? Shouldn't that be some bearded old man somewhere? The girl intently stares at Matoba whose mouth is stupidly half-open. Somehow it reminds him of the black cat at home looking up at him when it's hungry.



"Can't you understand English?"

"No.... I do understand it."

The girl breathed a sigh of relief before quickly puffed her chest up in an overbearing manner.

"Then respond. To simply ignore me, what kind of manner is that?"

"I wasn't aware."

"Fumu, is that so?"

The girl suddenly draws the sabre on her waist, making a sharp sound as it cutting through the air. The tip of the sabre barely missed Matoba's nose. Before the flinching Matoba, the girl stands upright and swings the sabre left and right, then holds it diagonally in front of her chest. She then said in a resounding voice.

"My name is Tilarna·Balsh·Mirvor·Lata═Imsedaria·Ye·Teberena·Divor═Nerano·Seya·Neru·Exedilika[1]. .....It means 『The daughter of Exedilika family, firstborn daughter of Seya, descendant of archduke Divor, apprentice knight under the glorious order of Mirvor, Tilarna』 in you dorini's English, do you understand? Now, what's your name?"



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1.ティラナ・バルシュ・ミルヴォイ・ラータ=イムセダーリャ・イェ・テベレーナ・デヴォル=ネラーノ・セータ・ネル・エクセディリカ





Translator's Note

That's the first part of the second chapter, on that note do you guys prefer the half chapter releases or whole chapter release that might be a little bit longer between releases? Tilarna's name is a little bit of a pain to translate, if you have any suggestion, feel free to post it in the comment.





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