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| Noble Bell College | ||
Azul  |
Sigh… My plan was to thoroughly enjoy this visit to the City of Flowers, but we were truly in a pinch last night.
Thanks to all that running around exterminating the crimson lotus flowers, my muscles are sore everywhere, and I hardly was able to sleep, so I'm just terribly tired… Yaaawn… However, I've come all this way to the City of Flowers. I must explore every nook and cranny of this city and gather any ideas that may be a boon to my businesses. Unlike the other students, I have no time to relax or lounge about until the masquerade. Alright, let's quickly head towards the town. | |
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| City of Flowers | ||
Azul |
My, the people of the City of Flowers sure have cultivated a wonderful entrepreneurial spirit!
I cannot believe that despite the frantic commotion caused by the crimson lotus flowers last night, the stores have already opened their doors, business as usual. Thankfully, that meant I was able to enjoy a nice brunch with dishes made with goat's milk. Now, where should I go next… | |
Rook  |
I spy Azul-kun! Bonjour. | |
Azul |
Oh, if it isn't Rook-san. Good morning… Or I suppose it may be a little too late in the day to say that. | |
Rook |
I didn't expect to run into you here in town.
It is all thanks to the valiant efforts of you and the others that we are able to witness another spectacular morning. After facing such grueling tribulations, I'm sure both your body and spirit are completely warn out. Are you sure you don't need to rest in bed? | |
Azul |
Honestly, I would like to sleep, yes… But my desire to explore the City of Flowers far outweighs my exhaustion. | |
Rook |
Fufu, what a coincidence. I've also sprung forth from the confines of my room in order to fully savor this beautiful cityscape.
What say you? Why not sightsee together, since we've just so happened to meet like this? | |
Azul |
With you, Rook-san…? Hm. I suppose I'm likely to gain some new insight that I would not have gleaned on my own.
I'm honored by your invitation. I will gladly join you. | |
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| City of Flowers - Topsy-Turvy Event Hall | ||
Azul |
Despite the fiasco with the Crimson Lotuses, it seems the festival decorations are still up.
It does look as if we will be able to take in the buildings and scenery now that there aren't as many people around like yesterday. | |
Rook |
It's as you say, Azul-kun. …See, look up. | |
Azul |
Up…?
Ah. There are some carvings engraved onto the building roofs and even the tops of some pillars. Hm…? What is that stone statue there… There seems to be two… no, three faces on its body. | |
Rook |
That is a sculpture of the Kind-Hearted Youth, and his friends. You should take a closer look. | |
Azul |
The Kind-Hearted Youth, and his friends…?
You're right. When I look closer, several people are clustered together to make a single silhouette of a young woman. This one here is the Youth, and this lady was his friend. This other face is some sort of animal… Perhaps a goat? | |
Rook |
Trés Bien! You know your stuff, Azul-kun. | |
Azul |
I suspected as much. I couldn't very well make it out just from looking at it, but…
The locals here in the City of Flowers take pride in their goats. So I thought it could be… However, I'm curious what theme they had in mind when creating this statue. The pose is quite comical, and yet their expressions are very serious… | |
Rook |
Apparently, this figure was made to recreate a well-known incident.
In an effort to escape from the gaze of some villain, they pretended to be stone statues in perfect sync… Or so this work of art is attempting to portray. | |
Azul |
Ah, I see… When you say it that way, I suppose they do have more of a tense expression on their faces.
It does seem as though the impression one can glean from this work of art deeply depends on whether you know of this incident taking place or not. If you don't mind, Rook-san, may I ask you to teach me more of what you know? | |
Rook |
Fufu, you do know how to fill me with joy. Then, I suppose I shall bring you to this one place I highly recommend. | |
Azul |
Yes, please! Tell me, what is this place you will be taking me? | |
Rook |
You'll see once we get there. Do not worry, I promise you will have a grand time. | |
Azul Ashengrotto/Personal Story/SSR Masquerade Dress
|
This story has been fan-translated by Mystery Shop. This translation was based off the scripts from the Japanese version of the game. |
| A Simple, Mysterious Talisman |
|---|
|
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| City of Flowers - Topsy-Turvy Event Hall | ||
Azul |
Rook-san…
That massive stone building we visited just now… It was overflowing with the rich history of the City of Flowers. The "King's Attire" they had in the glass case was a thoroughly interesting display as well. | |
Rook |
Just so. A cape, a staff, and a crown made of fabric… I hear it was used for the Topsy-Turvy Festivities back then.
Isn't it just invigorating to imagine how the people of that time would use such a costume? | |
Azul |
Indeed. And with all the trivia you gave that can't even be found in guidebooks, it was quite the learning experience for me.
Thanks to you, Rook-san, I feel as though I've gained more appreciation towards the fine arts. | |
Rook |
I, too, was elated that you would listen with such interest. Ah, oh yes, and speaking of fine arts…
Azul-kun. Your singing voice is absolutely spectacular. | |
Azul |
My… singing voice? | |
Rook |
Just so! You displayed such control over your tone and pitch since day one of practice, but…
Your singing voice grew more polished and captivating with each passing day. I'm certain that you continued to practice on your own to further your abilities, even when no one else was watching. That vibrato in the second half of the song was especially rich and intoxicating! It certainly showed just how much you put into your practicing. Your single-minded dedication to reach even further heights is truly beauté! I'd expect nothing less from you, Roi de Fort. I am so looking forward to the masquerade tonight! | |
Azul |
I-I can't believe you'd grasp just what specifically I was focusing on just from listening to our practices…
Ahem! Could I ask you to save the rest of your compliments until after tonight's performance is over? It is a waste if we were to stand around talking after coming all this way to the City of Flowers. Let us get moving. | |
Rook |
You're right! Then, next, let's head west. …Oh, what could that be!? | |
Azul |
Eh, you want to go down that narrow alleyway?
…And he's gone. I suppose I have no choice but to follow. | |
| ||
| City of Flowers - Underground Waterway | ||
Azul |
…
…...... …Excuse me, Rook-san. | |
Rook |
Mm, what's wrong? Don't hold back on my account. | |
Azul |
You've been heading down these narrow streets for a while now… Wherever are you trying to go? | |
Rook |
I have no objective in mind whatsoever. I am simply strolling around this unknown city as my whimsy dictates. That is one of the thrilling parts of a journey, after all. | |
Azul |
EH!? | |
Rook |
These alleyways are as winding as a labyrinth. If a quarry were to escape into these roads, it would be more than difficult to find them. | |
Azul |
Indeed, it's as you say.
How frustrating… We've wasted so much precious time. And there's still so much I wish to see… Let's return to the main roads. I'll pull up a map app and find our current location… …Hm? | |
Rook |
Azul-kun, is something wrong? | |
Azul |
I only just noticed when I tried to open up the map on my smartphone, but… it seems like these alleyways are more simplified here on the map than they should be.
Take a look. This road that we are currently standing on is not shown on the map at all. | |
Rook |
Let me see… You're right. This whole area is blank. And we made so many left and right turns coming here. | |
Azul |
… | |
Rook |
Azul-kun? Why do you look so glum?
No need to worry over finding our way. Even if we were to be lost, eventually, all roads will lead back to a single path! | |
Azul |
How can he be so haphazard… Ah, no, that is not what I am thinking about.
I only thought... I've seen this empty shape somewhere else before. Hmmm… Where did I… Ah!! | |
| [rustle, rustle] | ||
Azul |
…Fufufu, I see.
"When you wear this woven band, you hold the city in your hand." …So this is what that legend meant. | |
Rook |
What a unique necklace. What prompted you to pull that out all of a sudden? | |
Azul |
Oh, I had just left it in my pocket this whole time that I had a sudden worry that I had dropped it somewhere, that's all.
Now, let's see. Now that I've confirmed I still have the necklace… Let's continue our sightseeing tour. Now that we've opened this map of the City of Flowers, I've found a shortcut that should come in handy. | |
| ||
| Noble Bell College - Lecture Hall | ||
| [clamoring voices] | ||
Noble Bell College Student Noble Bell College Student  |
Your singing voice earlier was just spectacular, Azul-san. By the end, I was moved so much, I had goosebumps. | |
Azul |
Thank you very much! I am so pleased I put in the practice for this, but I did not expect such a warm reception. | |
Noble Bell College Student Noble Bell College Student |
Your grades are high, your singing is spectacular, and you put forth such great effort… And on top of that, you're such a sociable gentleman!
As fellow aspiring mages, we should exchange information so we can stay in contact. It's a pleasure to have met you! | |
Mage Training School Student Mage Training School Student |
Good evening. You're Ashengrotto-kun, right? That was a magnificent song!
And from what I hear, you also manage a café on your campus, right? I'd love to hear more about your business there. | |
Azul |
Really? I'm happy to hear that, please, I would love to speak to you at length about it.
I thank you all for your precious time. Now then, I am looking forward to hearing from you! Fufu, just from participating in that one song, all these lemmings… Ah, no, I mean, all these students have approached me one after another. This makes all the effort I put into my voice training absolutely worth the time. It was also the right course of action to prepare an abundance of business cards. If I hadn't ordered extra, I may not have had enough. I've made new connections, and I was able to familiarize myself with the City of Flowers. All according to plan… Fufufu. | |
Rollo  |
…That's a villainous laugh if I've ever heard one. Whatever could you be plotting? | |
Azul |
Oh, my, Rollo-san. I'm pleased you seem well.
And yet it wounds me that you would call me villainous. I was simply… ruminating over how enjoyable my sightseeing tour of the City of Flowers was today. | |
Rollo |
You toured the city again today? Well, well… It seems you've truly taken a liking to our city. | |
Azul |
Indeed. It was a very fulfilling day.
First, I had breakfast at a café, and afterwards, I explored the structures and sculptures around the festival venue with Rook-san. We took a small rest at a coffee shop, where we got to listen to a live piano performance alongside a rendition of a love song… Oh, and, we also visited the marketplace! It was bustling with the locals, so it was a treat just being able to observe everyone. The view of the scenery from the bridge on the way back to Noble Bell College was also very stunning… Although we did lose ourselves wandering some alleyways along the way, I found the time we spent exploring was more than substantial. | |
Rollo |
…Amazing how you were able to visit so many places before the masquerade even began. | |
Azul |
Indeed, yes. All thanks to this wonderful map I was able to get my hands on. | |
Rollo |
A wonderful map, you say? | |
Azul |
Yes. This one. | |
| [rustle, rustle] | ||
Rollo |
That necklace…! | |
Azul |
Ah, when I see the way you jump back in surprise… Fufufu, so I was right.
I only noticed after I had wandered into the alleyways. The narrow paths that were missing from my map application, and the netting of this necklace was a perfect match. It never occurred to me that there would be such a secret hidden in this long-honored talisman! But thanks to this, I was able to navigate the City of Flowers quite efficiently. | |
Rollo |
… | |
Azul |
While I only noticed because of my phone's map application…
What convinced me was recalling the view of the City of Flowers from atop the bell tower. And of course, that's all because I had a chance to see that sight not once… but twice. Ah, how delightful. I suppose one could say it was indeed worth the great deal of trouble I went through, just to have been given the blessing to climb that bell tower a second time! | |
Rollo |
…You truly are a scoundrel.
There are only a handful of people that live in the City of Flowers who actually know the secret of this necklace… And yet someone as villainous as you has figured it out. I cannot possibly imagine how you may abuse this knowledge. This city's prospects may well be in dire straits. | |
Azul |
Rollo-san, there is no reason to fret.
I have no intention of divulging this necklace's secrets to anyone. | |
Rollo |
When you say that with such a crooked smile, there is no possible way I would feel relieved… | |
Azul |
The reason why I chose this necklace as a souvenir is because it seems to just be a trinket with no meaning.
I only chose it to see their bewilderment… To hear them say, "What in the world is this?" or "Why did you even give this to me?" If it were to be revealed that it actually is a map of the City of Flowers, then my whole plan is ruined, do you see? | |
Rollo |
…No, sorry, I don't understand at all. What are you talking about? | |
Azul |
Essentially, if this necklace were to stay a simple, mysterious talisman…
It would also be in my favor. Fufu, I am already looking forward to seeing Jade and Floyd's perplexed expressions. After all, it's such a wonderful sensation to be privy to a secret that no one else knows. | |
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