(Card Story) No Matter Which "You" You Are

[schoenheit]

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Card: [SSR] (Silver Thread Shining in the Moonlight) Owen
Event: Ballad of an Innocent Weaver Girl
Characters: Akira, Heathcliff, Cain, Owen, Owen (wound), Shino

Chapter One ✧ Chapter Two ✧ Chapter Three ✧ Training Episode

Chapter One

Location: Village of Happiness Wheat Fields, side of the road (Afternoon)

Akira: The robes for the moon viewing ceremony really are so breathtaking...

(Everyone is breathtaking enough as it is, so it's no surprise such gorgeous clothes suit them perfectly. I can't wait for the actual performance.)

Hm? Owen's with someone from the village...?

Owen: Hey there, Master.

Villager: So this is the great sage. We're truly grateful for your cooperation in regards to the moon viewing ceremony this year.

Akira: No, no, think nothing of it! Were you in the middle of speaking to Owen?

Villager: I was. I was talking to him about how lucky we are; it's such a privilege to have such beautiful wizards assisting us in carrying out our village's tradition. What's more, the weavers of the village are overjoyed that the ceremonial moon-viewing robes suit him so wonderfully.

Owen: "Beautiful," huh. Even though I could have just made another set of clothes look like the ceremonial robes with magic. What if I'm not actually wearing the clothes you're oh-so-proud of? Would you still be so happy if it turned out the clothes I have on now were actually exceptionally ugly?

Villager: Huh? U-Uhm...

Akira: I-I apologize. He just gets shy when he's praised, is all. I need to have a quick meeting with him to plan for the ceremony, so if you'll excuse us...!

(Sound of villager leaving)

Akira: ... Owen, please take care not to say things to the villagers that might cause misunderstandings.

Owen: Like what? I was only being informative, since that villager didn't seem to realize what they were saying amounted to, "I have no interest in anything about any of you but your appearances."

Akira: Well, even I thought your clothes really do become you, Owen...!

Your weightless, gorgeous robes do go really, really with your bewitching charm! It's utterly captivated me— I'm serious!

Owen: What, did your brain melt out of your ears too, Master?

Shino: Hey, Sage. He bothering you?

Akira: Ah, Shino. No, that's not exactly... Huh? What are you holding?

Shino: It's a tool you use when you look after livestock. I was helping the old men in the village with some repair work. They kept complimenting me, saying how good I did, so they gave me this.

Akira: I see! You're as good with your hands as always, Shino.

Shino: Heh. It's no big deal.

Owen: ... Ohh? So, are you going to use it to tame your darling master-turned-beast?

Akira: Wai... Owen!

Shino: What'd you just say? Heath is not a beast.

Owen: Then, let's call him an animal instead. You'll have to train him carefully so he doesn't go around biting everyone, you know that?

Shino: ... If you're insulting the lord I serve, I'll make you suffer that same humiliation. I have no problem telling everyone there is all about that weird "wound" you have.

Owen: Sure. Want to try it? I might just kill you before you can, though.

Akira: Um, the two of you need to calm down.

We may find a clue about how to cure everyone's strange afflictions if we carry out this moon-viewing ceremony successfully. So, please don't fight just before the ceremo...

Owen (wound): Wah!

Shino: What?

Akira: ... Huh?

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Chapter Two

Owen (wound): What's this? What's this? These fancy clothes are so fluttery. They're really, really pretty!

Akira: This is... Owen's strange wound manifesting, it seems.

Shino: ... Yeah, looks like he still switches back and forth at pretty much random.

Owen (wound): Hey, Shino. Is he not here today?

Shino: Who? If you mean Cain, then no.

Owen (wound): The sparkly, pretty person. The one with hair the color of small spring flowers and eyes the color of an icy sea.

Shino: ... Heath?

Owen (wound): Heath? Is that his name? He cheered me on lots when I was getting eye drops, and he praised me lots, too.^[1] He's really nice, I like him really a lot.^[2] I want to show him my nice fancy clothes, too.

Shino: That's right. My lord is an incredibly kind, beautiful man. You have a pretty good eye for these things.

Owen (wound): Ehehe. Did I do a good job?

Shino: Yep, great work. Man, this Owen really is way easier to deal with.

Guess you like Heath, so I'll let what happened earlier slide. Tell that to the usual Owen.

Owen (wound): I am Owen?

Akira: (I'm glad we managed to avoid a fight, at least for the moment, but now I need to make sure other wizards don't see Owen while he's like this...)

Shino, could you take Owen somewhere people won't be able to see him for awhi...

(Sound of footsteps)

Bradley: Heya. What're you all bunched up at the side of the road for?

Akira: (And right on cue, trouble's arrived!)

H-Hello there, Bradley.

... Um, wait a moment— Where did you get all that food you're holding?

Bradley: What, this? I was hungry, so I decided to bring it along, 's all.

Akira: You didn't happen to steal the food the village prepared for the festival, right...?

Bradley: Like I know who it belongs to. When I decide I want something, I get it.

Akira: (I'm so sorry, villagers...!)

Bradley: The heck, it's Owen. Bullyin' Easterners again?

Owen (wound): Bullying? Why would I?

Bradley: Don't scare 'em too much, all right? They're a whole garden of shrinkin' violets, so it'd be a massive pain in the ass if they end up too spooked to dance at the festival.

Shino: Hey. Just who's a shrinking violet, huh?

Bradley: Cool it— You're just a baby Eastie. I figured dancin' in front of a whole group of people wasn't really for faint of heart scaredy-cats.

Shino: I'm not faint of heart, and I'm not a scaredy cat. I know for a fact that I'll pull off the moon-viewing ceremony perfectly— way better than any of you.

Bradley: Hahah! Not bad. Dance your heart out for me so I can get my damn wound cured, yeah? Do your very best, hah.

Shino: Right back at you. Take care during the festival— wouldn't want to sneeze and go flying off to who-knows-where, yeah? Besides, we're doing the moon-viewing ceremony to cure Heath's wound, too. Don't screw it up.

Bradley: What, guess you're not such a kid if you've got such big balls on ya. Sure, bring it— I'll play with you.

Owen (wound): These people are scary, Master...

Akira: (This is bad! Everything's spiralling out of control...! Just how am I supposed to quell...)

Snow: My word! Bradley! What exactly do you think you're doing?

White: This period just before the moon-viewing ceremony is especially critical! We shall not forgive you bullying the Eastern wizards!

Akira: (Snow, White! Perfect timing...!)

Owen, why don't we go play somewhere else?

Owen (wound): Somewhere else? Where are we going?

Akira: G-Guess we'll just have to find out when we get there!

(Sound of the two of them running off)

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Chapter Three

Location: Village of Happiness Wheat Fields, side of the road (Elsewhere) (Afternoon)

Akira: I think this is far enough... Hopefully, we'll be all right for now.

Owen (wound): Wah... Wow! It's so shimmery and shiny and dazzly! It's soooo pretty!

Akira: Huh? ... Wah, you're right.

The wheat fields that so enamored Owen reflect back the light of the setting sun, and before him unfurls an expanse of shining gold.

Owen (wound): They're like rippling gold tides... It's so bright, it's hard to keep my eyes open.

Akira: Mm, it is a little hard to look at. But it's so fantastical, like a dream...

Owen (wound): It's gold here and there and everywhere I look! This whole place... I love it!

With both hands outstretched, Owen dives into the endless expanse of gold before him, as easily as a fish weaving between the waves of the sea. Watching him running through the fields with a broad smile on his face, my own face can't help but break out into a smile, too.

Akira: Why don't we walk together so we don't get separated? Take my ha...

(Sound of hand being slapped away)

Owen: ......

Akira: (Ah... Did he go back to normal?)

Owen: ... Disgusting... Just what are you trying to accomplish? Trying to hold hands with me?

Akira: I-I'm sorry. You turned into your other self while you were talking to Shino. Then, Bradley showed up, and then, on top of that, it looked like it was going to turn into a fight, so the two of us escaped on our own.

Owen: ... I see.

Hey. Do that. Right now. You're someone who can return Oz's magic to him even during night, and someone who can make the sleepless Mithra fall into a peaceful slumber.

Akira: Well... I don't really understand why I can do that, so I... don't know how to do it right now...

Owen: ... Haha. I should've known you'd be useless. Fine. Then I'll just go kill Bradley and Shino.

Akira: P-Please, wait! There's no need for you to go that far...

Owen: Shino might still decide to tell everyone my secret. If you stop me, I'll kill you, too.

Akira: I don't think he would. Your wounded self likes Heathcliff, so Shino said he'd forgive what you said earlier. Shino seemed quite happy when he said that, too...

Owen: Eastern wizards sure must be incredible, if they think I can just trust someone based on such shaky foundation...

Akira: Owen...

Owen: ...

... Hey, Master. What sort of disgraceful, pathetic behavior did the me who wasn't me show everyone?

Akira: It wasn't disgraceful or pathetic at all. You were ecstatic over how pretty your moon-viewing ceremony robes were, and you wanted to show them to Heathcliff.

Owen: To Heathcliff?

Akira: There was a point where Shino had to give you eye drops, and the other you remembered how Heathcliff had praised him back then. You described Heathcliff as kind, and you said you liked him.

... Um, Owen... Do you like the scenery where we are now?

Owen: Excuse me? Where'd that come from?

Akira: Um, just wondering. I don't mind whether you like it or dislike it... But I'd like to know, if you'll share.

Owen: ... I hate it.

It's too shimmery, shiny, and dazzling. Every time the wind blows, the field ripples like a golden wave. It's so bright, it hurts my eyes to look at.

So, I hate it.

Akira: (Their likes and dislikes may be opposite, but he's saying the same thing he said while he was his wounded self...)

Owen: Just what are you grinning for.

Akira: Ah, it's just, I was thinking that... Every you is still you, all the same.

Owen: ... Hmph. You're weird.

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Training Episode: That Smile is...

Location: Manor Dining Room (Day)

Owen: ~♪

Akira: Hello, Owen. I see you're eating something super sweet, as usual. Is that a lump of fresh cream...?

Owen: Do you have a problem that?

Akira: N-Not at all... Ah, speaking of, doesn't your wounded self quite like sweets, too?

Owen: ... Who knows.

Akira: Have you heard anything about your wounded self from anyone? Like Cain or Shino, maybe?

Owen: And why do I have to tell you?

Akira: Uhm, well, I don't want to do anything weird to you while you're being influenced by your wound, so...

Owen: ......

I heard about it from Shino, after the moon viewing ceremony. Supposedly, I become easy to deal with, smile a lot, and cry a lot; a lot like a well-behaved child.

Ahhh... This is all your fault. Now I feel awful.

Akira: I apologize... I didn't mean to make you feel that way.

Owen: If you actually mean it, then get me those snacks from the kitchen, the ones that look like this big fluffy-squishy lump of cottony stuff I'm eating, but the stuff that's gross and sticky, like boiled intestines. A whole plate of them.

Akira: U-Understood!

Owen: Fufu.

Akira: (When he smiles, he's a lot like his wounded self. Guess I was right— they're both still Owen.)

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Translation Notes
1. See main story chapter 19.10. ↑
2. You can read "like" as "love" here, too, since he's speaking childishly. ↑

Thank you lemonvariety @ Twitter for proofreading!