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Card Story: How He Spends His Birthday (Shylock, Faust, Shino, Heathcliff, Nero, Murr, Chloe, Rustica, Akira)
Card Episode: For His Next Birthday (Shylock, Akira)
How He Spends His Birthday: Shylock and the Eastern Wizards
[Location: Manor’s bar, dusk]
Faust: Shylock.
Shino: We’re here, like you asked.
Nero: So… What’re we here for?
Shylock: I apologize for the sudden invitation. I just happen to have important business with you all.
Heathcliff: Important business?
Shylock: Yes, but I assure you, it’s nothing to be worried about. As you can see, there’s no one here but us, so please make yourself comfortable.
Shino: Cut it with the smug attitude. What do you need from us?
Shylock: Now, there’s no need to be so hasty. Please have this first.
Faust: This is…
Heathcliff: Wow… The drink is so colorful. Can we really have it?
Shylock: Of course. I won’t take any charges.
Nero: Thanks, but why…? Not sure why we’re gettin’ served fancy drinks like this.
Shylock: Actually, today is a special day, and I’d like all of you to celebrate it with me.
Shino: What special day?
Shylock: My birthday.
Nero, Shino, Heathcliff: Huh!?
Heathcliff: Sorry, Shylock, I didn’t notice… I should’ve prepared a present for you.
Shino: You should’ve told us in advance. We could’ve prepared a grand celebration for you.
Nero: Should I go and make some snacks now? If ya got anything you wanna eat? You can say it.
Shylock: Fufu, please don’t mind me. Seeing you so surprised and flustered…
Shylock: Seeing such sweet reactions from the wizards I adore fills my heart with satisfaction.
Faust: .... 《 Satillquinart Mulcreed 》
Shylock: ! This box is….
Faust: A gift from us.
Faust: I had a hunch that this might be the reason you called us here.
Shylock: Oh, my… My plan didn’t go as smoothly with the Eastern teacher, did it? You returned a surprise with a surprise.
Shylock: But thank you for your consideration. I’m quite happy to receive your gift
Shino: Hey, so Faust knew…
Heathcliff: Master Faust, did you know about Shylock’s birthday?
Nero: You shoulda told us! Acting all cool like that all by yerself…
Shylock: Now, now. It’s one of an adult’s sources of joy to keep the tricks they have up their sleeves hidden. Let us have a toast.
How He Spends His Birthday: Shylock and the Western Wizards
[Location: Manor's courtyard, day]
Murr: Happy birthday, Shylock!
Chloe, Rustica: Happy birthday!
Shylock: Thank you, everyone.
Rustica: To celebrate this wondrous day, we thought of holding a recital just for you.
Murr: We call it the ‘Heart-Throbbing Song Battle: Who Loves Shylock the Most?‘!
Chloe: As for your birthday gift, each of us had come up with songs of praise for you.
Chloe: We’ll sing it now, so you can tell us who you would like to go first.
Shylock: That’s a fascinating event. I’d be happy to listen.
Chloe: Then, I’ll go first! Fuu, haa...
Chloe: Happy birthday to you~! Happy birthday dear Shylock~!
Chloe: Ehehe…. Actually, this is a song to celebrate a birthday from the Master Sage’s world. Did my feelings come across well?
Shylock: Astoundingly, yes. I love it. I give you a hundred points.
Rustica: As expected of Chloe. I’ll give him a hundred points too.
Shylock: Then you’ve earned two hundred points in total.
Chloe: Wait, why are you on the judging side, Rustica?
Chloe: You were supposed to sing praises for Shylock, too. Right now, we are enemies competing for victory.
Rustica: ...Chloe and I… are enemies? Oh, how could this happen….
Chloe: Ah, s-sorry…! ‘Enemies’ was a little much… maybe ‘rivals’?
Rustica: So, we’re not on opposite sides?
Chloe: Nope, nope! We’re a master and disciple who get along very well!
Rustica: Oh, thank goodness.
Murr: I’m next! 《 Earnu Rambul 》!
Chloe: Huh!? Murr turned into a cat…!?
Murr: Meow meoow. Meow meow meooow!
Murr: How is it? I tried singing praises for you in the language of cats!
Shylock: Fufu, that was indeed adorable, but unfortunately, I’m not knowledgeable in the language of cats, so I was unable to understand your song.
Akira: Excuse me, I think I heard a cat’s meow from around here….
Shylock: Why, if it isn’t the Master Sage. If you’re looking for a cat, I have it here in my arms.
Murr: Meoow!
Akira: S-So cute…!
Rustica: Murr is adorable, Master Sage has joined us, Chloe is not my enemy, and today is Shylock’s birthday.
Rustica: Truly, there is no other wonderful day like this. Now, let us sing a song for Shylock together.
Rustica: Have a most delightful birthday, Shylock!
Chloe: Happy birthday, Shylock~!
Murr: Meow meow!
Akira: ...??
Shylock: Fufu, this recital is now truly a Western performance. I shall enjoy myself to the fullest today.
How He Spends His Birthday: Shylock and the Sage
[Location: Shylock’s room]
After the recital, I stopped by Shylock’s room.
Shylock: It’s truly an honor to have the Master Sage escort me back to my room like this.
Akira: Today is your birthday, after all.
Shylock: Fufu, the privilege of a man’s birthday, I see.
Akira: Anyway, that was a wonderful recital. I didn’t know that Murr turned to a cat and sang, but because of him, the other cats gathered around us.
Shylock: It truly feels like an assembly of cats. I’m happy that you enjoyed it. …By the way.
Shylock suddenly threw me a meaningful glance.
Shylock: Do you have a present prepared for me, by any chance?
Akira: O-Of course I prepared something for you!
Flustered by his suggestive gaze, I took out the present I kept from him.
Akira: Actually, I picked this out with the help of the Western wizards. It’s a rare liqueur that you might like.
Shylock: Oh, how regrettable.
Akira: Huh?
Shylock: Please don’t misunderstand. I’m very pleased with the present you have chosen for me.
Shylock: I had a plan, that if you didn’t prepare anything…
Shylock: Maybe I could ask to be selfish with you for once in a while.
Akira: I-Is that so…!?
Shylock: I was merely joking.
Shylock: Even if I did, I wouldn’t dare ask for something that would trouble you, for earning your hatred is the last thing I want.
I blinked at Shylock’s words. A moment passed as I looked at him and said:
Akira: I don’t think anything you say could ever make me hate you, Shylock.
Shylock's eyes slightly widened as if he was surprised.
Murr: Knock knock! Shylock, you’re still awake?
Murr: The second ‘Heart-Throbbing Song Battle: Who Loves Shylock the Most?‘ is about to start! The Central wizards say they want to join as contestants, too!
Shylock and I faced each other at the merry invitation of the sudden guest. Shylock smiled softly, and shrugged in deep disappointment.
Shylock: Our little time has been interrupted, it seems.
Akira: Everyone wants to have fun with you because they love you so much.
Akira: Again, happy birthday, Shylock!
Card Episode: For His Next Birthday
[Location: Manor’s bar, dusk]
Akira: Your birthday event was really fun, Shylock.
Shylock: Indeed. I enjoy quiet time, but when the atmosphere is lively, it makes my heart dance.
Akira: If you were to spend your birthday in the manor next year, what would you like to do?
Shylock: Let’s see… Perhaps it would be exciting to spend a birthday with the Northern wizards.
Akira: The Northern wizards?
Shylock: Hm? You look confused.
Akira: No, it’s just… You seemed troubled when the Northern wizards started a fight in the bar and broke one of your glasses, so that was a little unexpected.
Shylock: It’s true that they tend to favor conversing with power rather than with words, and having them as bar customers sometimes concerns me…
Shylock: But above all that, don’t you think that it’s exhilarating to watch?
Akira: Exhilarating…?
Shylock: The Northern wizards always bring danger with them. They may speak with smiles on their faces, but in the next moment, someone might turn to stone…
Shylock: They live a life full of moments that bring a creeping sensation that vibrates the heart.
Shylock: It’s frightening, but you just can’t tear your eyes away. There’s an allure that stirs your imagination when you think about what might happen if you so much as brush against such a thrill.
Akira: I-I see….
Akira: (That’s a Western wizard for you…. Maybe it’s like watching a horror movie for him…?)
Shylock: No matter how many lives I have, it won’t be enough for a birthday celebration with the Northern wizards
Shylock: That said, it would surely be an unforgettable day.
Special Home Screen Line
Shylock: I plan to treat myself with an exquisite wine after this. If it isn’t a bother for you, may I ask for your company, Master Sage? Even if we don’t get ourselves intoxicated on the same thing, I hope to at least share this merriment with you.
TL: yumemory | Proofreading: Alle