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yumemory
Raws: @promisingmoon (thank you!)
Card Story: A Ray of Hope (Shylock, Nero, Akira)
Card Episode: Shylock’s Favorite (Shylock, Akira)
A Ray of Hope: Chapter 1
[Location: City of Affluence, evening]
Akira: Wow, look at the time… Shylock, you must be tired from showing me around the city.
Shylock: Not at all. It simply makes me want to get drunk on wine as soon as we return to the hotel.
Akira: S-Sorry…
Shylock: Fufu, I was merely kidding.
Shylock: All those hours of walking surely must have exhausted you as well. Shall we go back now?
Akira: You’re right. ...Ah.
Nero: Oh?
Shylock: What a coincidence, Nero. Are you shopping?
Nero: Yeah, I happened across a rare ingredient, so I was browsin’. Y’all on your way back?
Akira: Yes, we finished strolling through the city so we thought we should go back… Whoa?
Nero: Wha?
Boy: ...Ah….
Akira: (A boy…?)
Akira: Sorry, I bumped into you. Are you alright?
Boy: ...Pant, pant.
Akira: (He looks pale… And his legs are quivering.)
Nero: He don’t look too good. Hey, you doin’ okay?
Boy: ...Urk….
Nero: Wha, hey, wait up!
Boy: …!
Akira: Ah, he tripped…!
Shylock: ...My goodness, I’m not particularly interested in being a landing cushion.
Akira: Shylock! Thank god, you caught him in time.
Shylock: If he were to injure himself in front of me, the image of it would haunt me in my sleep. Here, can you stand?
Shylock: …Oh? After a closer look, don’t you work at the parlor?
Akira: You’re right, he has a number on his arm…
Nero: A number mark… It’s fer servants, right?
Akira: Yes. Wizards with weak magic are turned into exhibitions or servants at the parlor….
Shylock: Indeed, and this boy is a wizard himself.
Shylock: What an impressive treatment you must’ve gotten there…. You’re as light as a feather.
Akira: (He looks haggard, his arms and legs are as thin as sticks….)
Nero: So you had enough and ran away, huh.
Boy: ...Lemme go!!
Nero: Hey, why’s he throwin’ a fit all of a sudden.
Shylock: He must’ve thought we would bring him back to the parlor. Now, now. There is no cause for concern.
Boy: No way! Let go of me!!
Akira: Um, everything’s alright, please calm down….
Shylock: They’re right. Be a good boy and listen or I’ll have to punish you.
Nero: Y’know, that threat o’ yours always gets ya the opposite result fer some reason.
Boy: Dammit! If you don’t let me go—
(stomach grumbling)
Everyone: ….
Nero: Sigh.
Nero: Oh well. You wanna get some grub before ya go, kid?
A Ray of Hope: Chapter 2
[Location: Hotel room, evening]
Boy: ...Bite, munch munch, chomp.
Nero: ‘Ey, slow down, there’s plenty of food if ya want seconds.
Akira: Here, have a drink. It’d be bad if food got stuck in your throat.
Boy: ...Gulp, thanks.
Shylock: Why, it’s like he’s been starving.
Nero: Are they not feeding you in the parlor?
Boy: ...Sometimes they give us breadcrumbs.
Nero: That ain’t really what ya’d call a meal….
Boy: ...They’re so damn mean. They keep all the nice food all to themselves to eat
Boy: They order us around, but they don’t even let us rest. If we disobey them, they’ll hit us….
Akira: How awful….
Akira: (Isn’t that just slavery?)
Boy: That’s why I ran away. I didn’t wanna spend my life in a place like that.
Boy: If I had stronger magic, maybe I would’ve had a different life….
Nero: ...Didya really go through all that effort to escape just so you can whine about it?
Nero: You didn’t, didya? First, use your head and think about whatcha wanna do from now on.
Boy: ...You’re right.
Boy: I wanna be an astronomer. The stars were beautiful, even when I saw them from the window of that prison of a room.
Shylock: An astronomer…. That’s just like a friend of mind, although he’s a tad unhinged.
Nero: Aight, kid. The first step t’ that is eatin’ this dessert right up and gettin’ some energy.
Boy: ...Whoa, it’s really yummy!
Nero: Glad ta hear that. It’s a fruit tart.
Boy: I want my friends who work at the parlor to eat this too! They’ll fall over from how good this is!
Akira: Nero’s pastries are really good, after all.
Nero: Haha, now yer exaggeratin’.
Shylock: Now that the chef has taken care of the pastries….
Nero: Stop that, I ain’t no chef.
Akira: Next we have to think about what to do about him... right.
Boy: ….
Shylock: ...I have an acquaintance. They’re a noble whom I can trust.
Shylock: What do you think about working in their mansion? I certainly can guarantee their disposition.
Boy: Huh?
Shylock: Is that a no?
Boy: ...I meant, yes! Yes, I want to work there!
Akira: I’m happy for you! ...Thank you, Shylock.
Shylock: The rest is up to him.
Nero: ...Somehow it surprised me that yer being honestly kind right now.
Akira: (Sorry, Shylock. I’m with Nero….)
Shylock: My, you’re painting me in such a boorish light. He has the same dream as Murr, so I should give him some lessons on sentiments.
Shylock: Now that I think about it, the boy’s words and actions are a bit like those of Murr.
Nero: ...Yeah, whatever ye say then. We oughta call it a day.
Shylock: You’re right. Then, Nero, I’ll trust this boy under your care.
Nero: Huh? Why should I?
Shylock: Oh, you wouldn’t mind doing so for just a night, would you?
Shylock: And while you’re at it, please make a delicious breakfast for him. He’s still a growing boy.
Nero: Hey, what—
Shylock: And another thing: we definitely wouldn’t mind if you also make our portion for breakfast.
Nero: ...Sigh, alright, alright, you got it. I give up. That’s some crazy insistence….
Akira: Sorry, Nero. Please take care of the boy.
Nero: Yeah, got it. Come on, kid.
Akira: ...Then I’ll go back to my room as well.
Shylock: Master Sage, would you mind sparing me a little more time?
Akira: What is it, Shylock?
Shylock: I was wondering if you would have a short late-night outing... with me.
A Ray of Hope: Chapter 3
[Location: Night sky with a crescent moon]
Shylock: How do you like the view of this city from above?
Akira: It’s really beautiful…! We’re so high up that I can see where we walked.
Shylock: I can't quite recommend walking around City of Affluence at night, but flying with a broom shouldn’t be a problem.
Akira: Looking from above makes me realize just how bright the city can be.
Shylock: Indeed. The brightness may be typical of a city full of entertaining locales….
Shylock: But among those flamboyant lights, there are numerous weak lights shining…. It’s a bit strange, but truly beautiful.
Akira: They’re not street lights, right? What are they?
Shylock: ...Those dim lights are magic to gather warmth.
Shylock: Children with weak magic gathered to make them. Don’t you think it’s a very courageous act?
Akira: The children’s… warm lights….
Akira: (Even if they’re weak, those lights are proof that they are alive…)
Akira: ...Shylock, why did you ask for my company?
Shylock: Fufu, wouldn’t you already know the answer now that you ask?
Akira: Um, to let me get a breather…?
Shylock: Your intuition is praiseworthy, Master Sage. I invited you to come along since you looked dispirited.
Akira: Thank you…. The fresh air is really nice.
Shylock: My pleasure. And one more thing….
Akira: Ah, that’s the pastry Nero made earlier…
Shylock: He happened to have leftovers of these delicious pastries. I wish that these courageous children could receive them as a gift from the sky.
Shylock: If you would, Master Sage. Please shower them down upon the children with me.
Akira: Ah, o-okay...!
Shylock: …As a little bonus, I infused the pastries with magic that can improve one’s magical power.
Akira: Shylock….
Akira: (Somehow, the weak lights are looking a little brighter…)
Shylock: I look forward to breakfast tomorrow.
Akira: Huh?
Shylock: Nero is the happiest when there are children who eat the pastries he baked.
Shylock: I’m sure we’ll have a feast tomorrow morning. I went so far to lighten his mood, after all.
Akira: I-Is that so…?
Akira: (When Shylock is like this… Is he telling the truth, joking, or just trying to hide his embarrassment? Hmm, I don’t know…)
Card Episode: Shylock’s Favorite
[Location: Manor’s bar, dusk]
Akira: Shylock, you seem to like Nero’s cooking.
Shylock: Indeed, I do. Or rather, I don’t think anyone would dislike delicious food.
Shylock: He never aimed to make five star meals, but he still made the best out of every ingredient.
Shylock: My tongue is terribly truthful, you see. For I myself am a truthful person.
Akira: (Truthful…)
Shylock: Oh? Do you have something to say, Master Sage?
Akira: Ah, it’s nothing…. Nero’s meals really are delicious, aren’t they?
Akira: Out of all the food that Nero has made, which one is your favorite, Shylock?
Shylock: Well…. If I have to choose one, it would be the pastries.
Akira: Huh? Pastries?
Shylock: Was it so odd?
Akira: Sort of…. I didn’t think you’d pick that.
Shylock: Fufu. Wine is not the only thing I enjoy.
Shylock: Nero’s scones and cookies go very well with a cup of tea.
Akira: So it’s for side dishes, I see.
Shylock: Having a drink while the sun is still high isn’t so bad, but it wouldn’t be an appropriate invitation for you, would it now?
Akira: Huh?
Shylock: Actually, I asked Nero for some freshly-baked cookies. Master Sage, how about having an afternoon tea with me?
Akira: Gladly!
Special Home Screen Line
Shylock: Sigh… Do you really want to see my hair undone that badly, Master Sage?
TL: yumemory | Proofreading: Alle
