| ||
| The Other Dimension - Sparkling Chamber | ||
Rook  |
Oh! The colorful myriad of light reflected from the mirrorball… This is quite the sparkling chamber indeed!
Ghosts and people dancing under a glitter of prisms! What a wonderful Halloween party! Now then, as it seems my traveling companions Trey-kun and Sebek-kun are already off enjoying the party to their heart's content… I’ll indulge in a little free time myself. Bonjour Mr. Ghost! I hope I’m not interrupting your meal? | |
Ghost A  |
If I’m not mistaken, you must be one of the young guests of honor from the living? | |
Rook |
I’m Rook Hunt from the End This Halloween Party.[1]
Though I regret being a part of that now. Think of me as an Endless Halloween Knight.[2] I appreciate this wonderful party you’ve put together for us. | |
Ghost A |
Fuhahahahaha! I’m delighted, absolutely delighted! In that case, I must say the lengths we went to prepare for it were well worth it. | |
Rook |
Well then, to those of the living and the ghosts who have been brought together… | |
Ghost A |
For this endless, yet however short-lived, Halloween banquet— | |
Ghost A & Rook |
Cheers! | |
Ghost A |
I must say it’s been 300 years since I’ve attended a ball as grand as this one! | |
Rook |
300 years?! In other words…
You mean the period where world-renown musician of the Coral Sea court, Granchio the Fourth,[3] lost his position following the imperial concert scandal that occurred. I heard after that he took up a position in the Shaftland’s Philharmonic Orchestra as their first foreign-born conductor… | |
Ghost A |
Oh? You seem quite knowledgeable about music, young man. To think someone from the living would bring up the name Granchio the Fourth!
Back then, my wife and I often attended the concerts he conducted. | |
Rook |
What a surprise! To think I’d find myself standing before someone who has experienced one of Granchio’s performances in the flesh! | |
Ghost A |
The music that flowed forth from the wave of his baton and red claws was pure magic. | |
Rook |
I listened to his masterpiece, "Underwater Anthem" so many times I wore out the concert CD we had at home.
But you’ll have to pardon me. I got a little carried away discussing my love of classical music. I’m glad to have spent such a fantastic time with a well-educated gentleman like yourself. But now, if you’ll excuse me. Adieu! | |
Rook |
Bonjour, Monsieur and Mademoiselle. What fine outfits you have on. They were all the rage 500 years ago.
And that stylish hairstyle, Monsieur. That periwig is perfect for such a stout gentleman as yourself. | |
Ghost B  |
What a good eye you have there! Ha ha ha! | |
Rook |
And the white pleated frills adorning your neck, mademoiselle… is that a ruffled collar? It looks just like a white lily. | |
Ghost C  |
My, such flattery! Ohohoho. | |
Rook |
Oh, it seems the music’s changed. As handsome as the both of you look, I’m sure everyone would love to see you dance the waltz.
Myself included, of course. Well then, I’ll bid you adieu. | |
Rook |
Ah, what a thrilling party!
Dressed as a vampire as I make my way through a crowd of guests clothed in bygone attire. It feels as if I’ve become part of the cast of a grand musical! And you there, whose prominent figure has become that of a wallflower’s! | |
| ??? | Eh?! A-Are you talking about me? | |
Rook |
Of course, Ghost of the Pumpkin Knight! | |
???  |
I-I’m not a ghost… | |
Rook |
Oya, you must be… | |
Idia |
I mean, with this ghost cosplay I’ve got on, it’s not like I’m offended you mistook me for one… | |
Rook |
Roi de Ta Chambre! | |
Rook Hunt/Personal Story/SSR Halloween
|
This story has been fan-translated by j-mee, and proofread by twstarchives (JP), and uuru (EN). This translation was based off the scripts from the Japanese version of the game. |
| The Fierce Shadow That Makes the Light Shine All the Brighter |
|---|
|
| ||
| The Other Dimension - Sparkling Chamber | ||
??? |
I-I’m not a ghost… | |
Rook |
Oya, you must be… | |
Idia |
I mean, with this ghost cosplay I’ve got on, it’s not like I’m offended you mistook me for one… | |
Rook |
Roi de Ta Chambre! | |
Idia |
H-Hey you nearly gave me a heart attack… Like sure I may have become the Pumpkin Knight…
And promised myself I wouldn’t back down from all the party people, jocks, and other people not on the same wavelength as me… But I hadn’t mentally prepared myself for suddenly running into you like this, Rook-shi. | |
Rook |
You’ll have to forgive me. It seems I accidentally gave you a little scare there, Idia-kun.
Even though I’ve seen Ignihyde’s costumes around campus on more than one occasion… Among all these ghosts in their classical fashion, I mistook you for the real thing. There are quite a number of ghosts attending this Halloween party from 200-500 years ago. The longer we’re in these costumes and around all of these ghosts… The more it feels like we’ve become characters in a musical of sorts. Then, a knight in black armor caught my eye. Or rather, you did, Idia-kun. | |
Idia |
Eh? …Ah! Fh…Fheehee!
Oh~ this? You thought the armor I had on was the real thing? Well I made the costume myself, you know. The base I used was some commercial lightweight urethane-type material, but then I added my own special mod to the basecoat. Then I kept spraying thin coats of lacquer on top to make it look even more like real steel! | |
Rook |
To think you made it yourself! And not only that, but I’m also surprised by how much of an armor enthusiast you are. | |
Idia |
I didn’t try to replicate it because I’m into armor but more for the entertainment and creators…
I guess you could say I wanted to honor both out of respect, or like, show my appreciation… | |
Rook |
Is that so. How interesting. | |
Idia |
Pumpkin Hollow really wormed its way into the heart of every B-grade horror movie fan.
This is just a cosplay I recreated trying to stay faithful to the iconic Pumpkin Knight. | |
Rook |
Pumpkin Hollow? I had considered myself somewhat of an aficionado of historical works featuring knights in armor, but this is the first I’ve heard of it. | |
Idia |
Eh! You haven’t heard of this classic?!
The Pumpkin Knight is a pumpkin that comes to life. A pumpkin that got botched when it was getting carved into a jack o’ lantern for Halloween. | |
Rook |
Merci, Roi de Ta Chambre! I appreciate the explanation. I’ve learned something new.
This armor takes after the gothic style. I suppose this film must be set about 500 years ago? | |
Idia |
Uh, the period? I-It didn’t say. It’s a fantasy movie. | |
Rook |
That skull design engraved on the gorget and rerebrace.[4] And on the belt buckle as well the underskirt's hem…
And your sabatons bear the emblem of the Pumpkin Knight. The details are quite intricate. Not only that… The parts themselves, including the pauldrons, were designed in the shape of a pumpkin, weren’t they! And then you added some damage to the armor to finish it off! The countless number of blade marks left on it tells the tale of someone who survived the harshness of the battlefield. It’s an intricate design that embraces both realism and originality. Beauté! I give it 100 points!! | |
Idia |
Uh… Sorry to interrupt the merry little time you’re having by yourself there.
B-But all I did was recreate it by studying reference materials from Pumpkin Hollow… | |
Rook |
Then let me say “Beauté!” for the way you’ve demonstrated your love for the film, and the staff behind it, in a manner that goes beyond words. | |
Idia |
U-Uh, sure…
Seems like you know a lot about historical costumes, Rook-shi. Seeing as I’m not as well versed as you are, if you’ll just excuse m- | |
| ??? | Armor, was it…? What an intriguing conversation you both seem to be having. | |
Idia |
? | |
Rook |
Oya, that must be… | |
Malleus  |
||
Idia |
Malleus-shi?! | |
Rook |
Roi du Dragon! | |
|
| ||
| The Other Dimension - Sparkling Chamber | ||
Rook |
Oya, that must be… | |
Malleus |
||
Idia |
Malleus-shi?! | |
Rook |
Roi du Dragon! | |
Idia |
Geez, if it’s not one thing it’s another. First this cheerful character appears, and now this elusive, mysterious one. *Panic* | |
Rook |
Thank you for inviting us to this excellent Halloween party this evening, Malleus-kun.
That outfit looks fabulous on you, by the way. It has all the splendor of those classical oriental dramas featuring gongs and the erhu.[5] | |
Malleus |
Fufu… I see its beauty doesn’t escape the eye of those at Pomefiore. This costume was quite troublesome to devise. | |
Rook |
With such an excellent eye for style as yours, what do you think of Idia-kun’s costume? | |
Idia |
*Wheezes* I-If you could just kindly leave me out of the convo here, Rook-shi…. | |
Malleus |
Fumu… It’s a replica of a slightly earlier armor design with an interesting motif.[6]
Although, what are these blade marks here, which are of the same nature as those on the gauntlets and pauldrons... On the lower half... along the sabatons and cuisses? | |
Idia |
Eh? E-Even if you ask me “What are these?” with that serious look on your face… | |
Rook |
Considering it from the angle of whoever designed the costume, perhaps the Pumpkin Knight fought on horseback. | |
Malleus |
I see. In other words, someone whose legs would be grazed by an oncoming foot soldier attack. | |
Idia |
J-Just like Rook-shi said, the Pu-Pumpkin Knight rides a horse. A large black stallion with crimson eyes. | |
Malleus |
And then the vertical curve of the breastplate between the gorget and the rerebrace here... it seems to be lacking in height. Would it be able to repel a sword attack? | |
Idia |
H-Huh? Even if you ask me “Can it repel a sword attack?” with a smug look on your face like that… | |
Rook |
This knight has a large pumpkin for a helmet. Freeing up the neck area would be unavoidable. | |
Malleus |
Fumu. Often mighty warriors would use unique helmets as a show of strength toward enemy soldiers.
However, prioritizing the appearance of one’s helmet at the expense of its defensive capability… He must have been a seasoned warrior indeed. | |
Idia |
Uh, well…
Why are Malleus-shi and Rook-shi so concerned with the practicality of it?! | |
Malleus |
At any rate, I wouldn’t have expected either of you to have such a deep understanding of armor. | |
Idia |
You’ve got it all wrong, I’m just a fan of the movie Pumpkin Hollow… | |
Rook |
That reminds me! If you’re a fan of armor I recommend the musical Kingsroad ~The Sword to Become King~! | |
Malleus |
Oh? One of the theatrical plays of man? I’m intrigued; tell me more of it. | |
Idia |
A-And now we’ve moved on to musicals all of a sudden… | |
Rook |
When it comes to musicals, Kingsroad ~The Sword to Become King~ is one of the big three, you see.
The hero is a young boy who has to undergo a number of trials in order to remove a legendary sword embedded in stone. | |
Malleus |
Ah, the old story about the king of a small country to the North. They say the order of knights he commanded was quite strong. | |
Rook |
As expected you’re quite knowledgeable about history, Malleus-kun. How about you, Idia-kun? Are you fond of musicals? | |
Idia |
Uh, I enjoy watching the ones Moira/Edge, the idol group I stan, are in. Online, of course… | |
Rook |
Going to see a performance in person is wonderful, but online showings you can view more than once are also nice indeed.
As they say, “Cherishing the old leads to acquiring something new.”[7] Historical musicals are living records elevated into an art form! Historical events are turned into stories told by the best modern actors, songs, dances, costumes, and art. And as we view them we’re able to learn about the nature of each piece, take in its message, and then connect that to the outside world. In the past when I was younger, I wasn’t very capable of expressing how I felt. But one day, my family took me to the Shaftlands’ Royal Theatre… And it changed my life. With just this one performance, my heart was moved. Or rather, it leapt. | |
Idia |
Ummm… K, so you mean like casually going to a concert and then getting hooked? | |
Rook |
It was a performance of Kingsroad.
The hero was a boy younger than I was. In order to become king he faced trials of the land, sea, and sky. Even when he was worn out, he sang and danced with his heart and soul to convey the desire to keep going, without losing hope. His voice, movements, and breath in that scene moved me to tears, and for the first time in my life I cried from something other than pain. | |
Malleus |
It's true that in ancient times, both mankind and fae used song and dance to convey what was most important. | |
Idia |
There are times Moira/Edge gave me with so many feels I’d be furiously waving my glow sticks for them with tears streaming down my face. | |
Rook |
The reprise of the musical’s theme song still touches my heart.
La la la~ Out with, out with the sword in the stone♪ La la la~ Out with, out with the sword in the stone♪ Onwards, onwards, go the king’s road♪ | |
Idia |
Eek! He just belted out singing all of a sudden! Man this is so cringe! Ma-Ma-Malleus-shi, you’ve gotta do something! | |
Malleus |
That song… It’s one Lilia would sing to me while telling me a bedtime story.
Very well, I’ll accompany you on the pipe organ. | |
Idia |
S-SAY WHAT???
Eep, now ev-everyone’s staring at us! Looks like it’s time for me to logout of here. | |
Rook |
La la la~ Out with, out with the sword in the stone♪ Onwards, onwards, go the king’s road♪ | |
| ||
Rook |
(Ah, Roi de Ta Chambre, Roi du Dragon— What a fantastic time I had discussing our interests.)
(However, I wasn’t able to finish my story. It’s true that on that day…) (I shed tears for the hero of Kingsroad. At the voice of Neige Revanche, who played him…) (However, it wasn’t he himself that moved me. It was all of the elements of the performance that made him shine.) (The music, costumes, art and, of course, all the professional and supporting actors. Among them, those that played the villains were especially outstanding, you see.) (The fierce shadow that makes the light shine all the brighter. For the prince must have his beast, the princess her witch, and the sun its moon.) | |
Rook |
(And tonight I’m the King of the Night, the vampire. The shadow that disappears once the sun rises.)
(Have I managed to transform into Halloween’s greatest villain?) (Together with those who have created this stage, let me enjoy singing my heart out… until the break of dawn!) | |
Rook |
Happy Halloween! | |
| ||
| ✦ Main ✦ | ||
| Jump to top |
