The Amber Sword Volume 2 Chapter 147
TL: New chapter.
Chapter 147 – Warm words of hope (9)
The night sky of Senia’s village was quiet and peaceful. Bright stars filled the cloudless sky like paint on an empty canvas with an aurora highlighting it. The forest was quiet enough for one to appreciate the majestic painting.
The village had once again went back to its peaceful self after the quarrels in the Longhouse ended. But at the darker corners of the courtyard which was lit up by the campfire, a small shadow quietly slipped into a warehouse located at the village’s edge.
Sifrid was quietly taking in breaths as she looked carefully to her left and right. Her green eyes were dyed with anxiety as she slowly pushed against the building’s door with her tiny hands. She successfully infiltrated the building and closed it gently from the inside.
The interior was pitch-black, save for the sky-window located at the top which cast a tiny beam of moonlight onto the ground.
However, the buried bloodlines of the Lycanthropes within the Senia’s citizens would awaken in the dark. Her pupils expanded and captured every detail in the dark.
Sifrid took a moment before she found what she came for. She moved towards a vase which contained water and stood on her tiptoes to fill her waterbag. Once she was done she stashed it away and surveyed her surroundings again.
In the end there was no resolution to the quarrels earlier, but Sifrid had made up her mind and decided to travel alone to the Baron.
[The adults said I can save everyone if I present myself before the Lord Baron. If I do so, Father and Grandfather wouldn’t need to fight with them anymore.]
She prayed for everyone to live on properly and not end up like her mother who left her behind for all eternity.
“Mother…..”
Sifrid sniffled and stopped herself from having her tears from falling. She knew that she would never see her father and grandfather and everyone else ever again if she left.
(Sifrid, you should quickly grow up and stop crying. You’re a citizen of the forest, a true Senia— Mother told me this all the time.)
She wiped her eyes and felt she needed to become strong. But when she thought of her mother’s final moments covered in blood and smiling warmly at her, her tears still fell down like a stream of stars.
“Sifrid, you idiot…..” She rubbed her eyes angrily and bit her lips as she whispered.
After taking a short moment to recompose herself, she went before the storage boxes stored with the clothes worn only at festivals.
She rummaged through the boxes before she found her red dress and leather shoes, She held them up and twirled around, almost in a little dance. She loved their designs and the feel of the material and started to wear them with rapid heartbeats. She was unsure what she was about to meet but she still wanted to fulfill her selfish little wish at this final moment—
She thought that the others would not blame for her wearing the clothes. But even if they did, she was going to do so anyway. She grinned with slight glee at the thought of her little mischief; her earlier tears glittering because her eyes were narrowed with mirth.
[What else have I forgotten? Ah, Mother’s flute.]
The little girl paused for a slight moment before she reluctantly took it down from her neck. She stared it over and over again, rubbing against the wooden grains with her fingertips, before she finally set it aside gently.
“I’ll leave this behind for father,” She muttered: “So Father will remember Mother and me.”
She blinked a few times and parted ways with it. As she walked away, the turned around a few times and looked back at it, before she finally clenched her tiny fists and ran to the door, stopping there. She made sure she did not forget anything before she pushed the door slightly open, peeking outside to ensure no one was there.
Once outside, she started to move towards the village’s entrance. However, after taking a few steps, the little girl felt something cold pressing on her right arm.
She trembled.
She turned around like a small frightened animal, her wide green eyes catching the glimpse of a silver sheathe. She raised her head and saw a familiar pair of warm eyes along with a confident smile.
“Ah……Brother…… Bre—” She said and carefully took a step back.
It was Brendel.
“If you’re heading out, you need to remember to bring something to defend yourself with.” He said with an encouraging voice.
He slowly walked over and knelt down before her. He raised her right hand and pressed the short sword he was carrying onto her palms, before closing her fingers.
Sifrid looked at him in confusion.
“In the end, you decided to go to the Baron by yourself?” He said.
The little girl lowered her head and did not reply. He nodded in response and took a long breath.
“Lady Sifrid, will you allow this knight to accompany you on your journey?” Brendel lowered his head and placed his fist across his heart.
Sifrid’s head rose up in surprise and stared at him. Perhaps he was escorting her to keep her safe along the journey? In the end, she blushed and extended her other empty hand before him. Brendel grasped her hand firmly and stood up.
“Well then, let us take a look what kind of man Lord Baron is.” He said, his soft voice belied the threat behind his words.
She looked at him in confusion once again before comprehension dawned on her.
“But Brother Brendel, y-you will be killed!” She stammered.
“Don’t worry. Just as the Senia desires to have hope for themselves, I too yearn for it—”
He cast an unwavering gaze towards the direction of Trentheim. He raised his left hand and stretched it out before he formed his fingers into a tight fist; he pictured himself swallowing up Graudin’s manor as he said:
“Even if the entire world is against me, I swear I will show you victory before your very eyes, Sifrid—”
============== Graudin’s POV ===========
Even though it was deep within the night the Baron’s manor was still lit up with candles. The hallway had people walking through to and fro noisily, but Graudin stood quietly in his room and looked out the arched stone window with a cold gaze out to the night sky.
The land below were similarly filled lit up with countless torches.
Seven administrative officers stood behind the cruel baron. Their mouths constantly moved like worms, but none of them dared to speak up. In the end it was Graudin’s right hand who bowed at his waist and spoke in his low growling voice:
“My lord, the mercenaries have gathered outside the city in force, I’m worried that our men are not going to be able to suppress them and—”
Graudin’s glare swept across his face and forced his remaining words to remain stuck in his throat.
Graudin whirled around and marched towards the table and swept the top filled with luxurious food with his right arm, causing plates and bowls to crash loudly and spectacularly to the ground. Metallic spoons and forks danced about as everyone got startled. The servants immediately retreated as far as they possibly could to the edge of the room, afraid of their lord’s wrath and getting crucified because of a whim.
The blood of the mercenaries and adventurers had not dried yet—
“You fools.” Graudin’s icy words filled the room: “Let me ask you, why do you think Kerri and his men are not back yet?”
His right hand swallowed and answered: “…… That’s probably because they are blocked outside by the mercenaries.”
“Probably?” Graudin’s eyes narrowed.
“I apologize, my lord, our men are unable to leave the city because of the mercenaries’ blockade. We are unable to receive any news for now……”
“Mercenaries, mercenaries, and still these fucking mercenaries, can’t any of you think of a solution?” He threw a fork at his right hand’s face, causing it to bleed slightly, as he roared: “Why can’t you kill all of them?”
“This…..”
[There are ten large squadrons of mercenaries outside the city, and that’s not counting the adventurers yet. Mother Marsha is already looking out for us because they haven’t launched an attack. We simply don’t have the forces to kill everyone. I even fucking told you not to kill so many of them during the day. It was good enough to teach them a lesson, but you refused to listen and relied on the fact that you have Madara’s army. You stupid arrogant piece of shit. Because of your inability to think of the consequences the situation has gotten out control!]
Graudin’s right hand insulted his lord in his mind, but he did not show any of his discontent on his face, and merely lowered his head as he waited for Graudin to change his mind.
The latter was silent for a while as he realized what the problem was, but he was not too worried.
“Where are the Madara undead?”
“Are you calling them?” His right hand’s head immediately raised up.
“Of course. This problem is partly because of them. Go to them and tell them the truth about our situation. I only want one result; I don’t want to see any of these filthy mercenaries in my lands by tomorrow’s dawn.” Graudin waved his hand to dismiss them.
[You’re really killing them all?]
The expressions of Graudin’s men changed. This was not a small matter to gloss over.
======== Mercenaries’ POV ==========
The mercenaries were indeed gathered outside the city, but not all of them were interested in getting justice from a Feudal Baron.
The bonfire burned with a fiery rage, causing everyone’s faces to be visible near it.
Alistair looked at everyone of them coldly. The people in front of him were mixed with the mercenaries’ leaders and adventurers’ representatives. Some were sellswords who did not belong to any faction. While their faces held angry looks at the same time, the majority of them were hiding their thoughts on what they could gain from this.
The young Acolyte sighed and knew that it was impossible to seek revenge today. But the rage in him continued to burn because so many of his comrades died. He clenched his teeth as he questioned the crowd with full of disdain:
“Do you truly not want to fight Baron Graudin? So many lives have been taken away today and yet you choose to be cowards and stay silent. Has anyone thought about how much they look down on us? Are our lives really worthless and to be wantonly trampled upon?”
Everyone glanced at each other but no one responded.
“Your comrades, friends and companions, their bodies are still crucified in public display; have you resigned yourself to watch them rot?” He tried again.
“Do we just let the baron’s transgression against us go on?” Someone in the crowd whispered.
“What else can we do? That fucking Graudin is directly under the king, A Feudal Baron.”
“And that gives him the right to kill us?” Alistair retorted in fury when he heard the whispers: “I don’t see any laws that allow him to do so!”
TL: Poll is now closed.
May 14, 2017 @ 6:28 am
Thanks!
May 14, 2017 @ 6:42 am
About Su Fei/ Sophie, i believe on your judgement the name should be Su Fei because it will sych with background story. Don’t relly poll to translate, since the translator is you. ^_^
May 14, 2017 @ 6:52 am
Translation or rewrite, you’re damn good and I trust your judgement.
May 14, 2017 @ 6:52 am
Honestly, I’m confused about all this editing stuff.
I feel angry that you’re basically changing the story with these “heavy edits”.
But you’re making it more reader friendly which I get, and am thankful for.
I’d really like to see some examples of the editing becaue you just writing out an explanation doesn’t really do it for me.
May 14, 2017 @ 6:53 am
Normally I would go with letting you do what you want, but you really scared me when you tried to change the name from Sophie to Soufle….
Do what you want most of the time, but consult us on any questionable matters.
May 14, 2017 @ 6:58 am
Sophie is my first choice for native translation, but the alternate is Souffle (similar in pronunciation to Su Fei), so I polled the readers what they think of the second choice. Imagine if 80% of the readers find the second choice to be better, who’s to say they are wrong?
May 14, 2017 @ 8:47 am
To be honest i wouldnt mind him just being Su Fei. Since Sophie just feels wrong to me and Souffle isnt that much better. Not changing it from Brendel is also fine, but then again you can do whatever u want im just a leech xD.
May 14, 2017 @ 6:59 am
Thanks for all your hard work ^^
We got your back! You choices are the law! All hail the Translator! 😉
Only use pools if you yourself is unsure if something should or not be edited, use it for support. Dont let the pools rule you, they should at most only advise you 😉
You are the king here, so your decisions are what truly counts ^^
May 14, 2017 @ 6:59 am
I vote for whichever is easier for you to keep your motivation to translate chapters.
I really have no complaint about your editing since it is of high quality, plus I already am aware of the flaw of most of cn original work having a tendency to be fill with redundant writing so I enjoy the removal of it. jpn novel is a different story since jpn novels has been through an editor, already polishing their work.
May 14, 2017 @ 7:04 am
I never understood that whole conundrum about his name. On topic… Why not do a chapter or few chapters both edited and unedited so the readers could see the difference (compare the flow, transitions between chapters, etc.)? Considering the involvement in editing though, I don’t think readers should/need to be involved in anything like that. If you change/edit something, just leave a note. Maybe the editing or a lot of editing isn’t necessary at all (even if the narrative quality drops). As I’ve mentioned earlier. I would like to read through both edited/unedited chapter and go from there.
May 14, 2017 @ 9:43 am
As Agranite said, considering the tendency for redundant writing in CN, i don’t think i will miss that being cut out.
But, like JayKay i would like to see at least once the difference with one chapter between the two styles.
Wolfie even if you don’t do this i really enjoy the story and your translation/editing/rewriting effort so far.
It’s your project and I don’t mind whatever you decide in the end.
May 14, 2017 @ 7:43 am
I’m actually really surprised that the “make more polls” option is so low. I assumed more people would want a say in how the story is presented, though I guess that the high votes the other way just shows the trust everyone has in you, haha. I personally like when game developers and such take input from the community but I guess with a story (a translation, no less) it’s an entirely different ballpark.
May 14, 2017 @ 8:08 am
I have to ask, why did wolfie use Sophie instead of simply using Su Fei. Usually names aren’t translated.
May 14, 2017 @ 2:19 pm
Certain names with an english equivalent are sometimes translated. Im assuming its a similar case with coiling dragons name (eg. Hillman (Xi’er’man), Baruch (Ba’lu’ke), Doehring Cowart [De’lin Ke’wo’te]) and it’s the translators prerogative to fully translate these names. Another similar case but on another language might be the preference between some people translating japanese jargons into english and some just leaving it in (eg sensei, -sama)
May 14, 2017 @ 2:21 pm
*prerogative to choose if he wants to fully translate…
May 14, 2017 @ 2:53 pm
On the topic of names with english equivalents, http://dictionary.pinpinchinese.com/definitions/t/%E8%98%87%E8%8F%B2-sufei says that Sufei may mean Sophie, and as I can’t find any other source, it might not be that accurate.
Imo this argument is as silly as when I heard my friend of mine saying that Daniel is a much too masculine name on a girl. And guess what guys, Sophie did actually become a boy’s name in a certain period of time https://www.babycenter.com/baby-names-sophie-1466572.htm around 2010 to 2013.
May 14, 2017 @ 2:59 pm
I dont know if this has any relation to the story but Sophie comes from the word Sophia which means wisdom. This might be related to the MC but I guess it is too farfetched as most MC’s Ive read in chinese novels are usually OP enough to know everything the trash mobs wouldn’t know.
May 14, 2017 @ 8:19 am
Thanks.
Honestly, about Sophie / Su Fei i don’t really care.
I already used to “Sophie” as our male name for MC.
As a translator and editor your work is really remarkable.
Don’t bother with every ridiculous demand it’s waste of time (unless they pay you some money to grant their wish)
May 14, 2017 @ 8:21 am
I trust you and your editing. You can name the MC Sophie, Su Fei or Souffle and I will still give my 100% support to you.
Though Souffle will make me imagine a magical girl heroine in a dessert theme setting with friends and teamates named Cream, Muffin and Biscuit. And the bad guy is named Pistachio.
May 14, 2017 @ 8:43 am
Thanks for the chapter!
May 14, 2017 @ 9:25 am
I want to see it not look like shit. All the better to fix Chinese writing stupidity foremost the disgusting word filler as you have mentioned. I and am sure others as well would rather continue to see it with its make up on instead of having it washed off to show the less ideal face of the Amber sword
May 14, 2017 @ 9:29 am
Thanks for the chapter 😀
May 14, 2017 @ 10:32 am
Thanks for the chapter.
May 14, 2017 @ 10:35 am
Bro, you do a fantastic job with the editing and translation, please do continue with your discretion
May 14, 2017 @ 11:16 am
whatever works better for you.
thanks for the chapter!
May 14, 2017 @ 12:30 pm
To tell you the truth, i’m sick of this already, if you want to engage with the community just go to the novelupdates and create a poll there while asking the dweller there about what do you feel about this novel that you heavily edit! Then link your created forum post there here to make it easier for us to go there!
I’m sick of this because this you almost create this so called announcement at a pace of 2-3 chapter and the poll is always about your translation, your translation, your translation, and once again your own translation…
I really want to avoid reading your announcement, but i can’t because of my curiousity, and because of that i ended up reading it! Just stop this already!
I always love reading your translation and never have any issue of it, and i never criticize any translator because even if some of it was lost in translation, i can still process what happen in the plot. And it was readable!
Seriously, stop making this announcement or that announcement… Make one simple announcement in NU, link it to your new chapter, and deal with it once and for all… For fuck sake just because of one reader from a thousand reader out there… I swear if i see this translation announcement one last time…
May 14, 2017 @ 2:20 pm
Look, it’s all about quality. You might not care about it but I do.
I think it’s obvious that I would do it on *my site, which releases TAS content* and not on NU. On the upside, the majority has voted to leave all decisions to me so you wouldn’t need to see this again.
May 14, 2017 @ 5:15 pm
to me not brother you questions , but to me your job is fantastic
May 14, 2017 @ 1:35 pm
1)
Normally when you write a story you have all the settings written out. And with a character you write all the backstory when you create him.
If I learned that in the author of Amber Sword decided that the MC knew elvish and decided on backstory for that within the space of a chapter then I would consider him to be a hack. It’s not a good way of writing stories or characters.
2)
Readers can’t make the same kind of decisions as you because we don’t have the same information. We don’t what the story was like before you did any translation/editing. We don’t know what you changed, added or removed. So we can’t make many useful decisions.
3)
Polling is a terrible way to make complicated decisions. Using a poll to decide the name is fine because the name doesn’t really matter.
If want the opinion of the readers you can ask. Then read them and make see if their thoughts are useful. Making a change because “hey, it seems popular” is a bad idea.
In the first place, most people probably aren’t even going to vote in polls. Not just because they aren’t that interested. It’s also that if you read the chapter several days after it has been released then you probably wouldn’t bother with the poll because the decision has likely already been made. You should consider that your readers aren’t just people who read the chapter one or two days after it has been released, there are readers who read it weeks or even months later.
If you want USEFUL feedback then you need to get a small number of serious readers involved and talking about everything in detail. That’s what authors normally do, they have family or close friends to read drafts or their story for feedback.
May 14, 2017 @ 2:49 pm
First of all, you keep mentioning about not having the same information and what not, that’s quite irrelevant. The polls are straightforward. I’m not here to have a complicated choice, I’m asking Blue Pill or Red Pill.
If I lead a 20-30s magazine as my demographics, and I find out my main audience are actually 30-40, then I might want to cater to them more.
The background aspect here is mere fluff and does not affect the events of the story, something that I have been repeating over and over again, but everything is sort of a moot point now that the majority has left it up to me every edit.
May 14, 2017 @ 2:00 pm
Thanks for the chapter Wolfie. I really like how you have been doing it so far, and that most of the filler has been cut out makes it really easy to read and understand. So just keep what your doing and ask a poll if you have something your unsure on. As for Su Fei or Sophie either is fine by me, Souffle has been thoughly ruined for me now thanks to Dawnless because i had a mental image of a badass for brendle and now its a grown man wearing a fluffy dress surrounded by loli magical girls with a desert backgroung… Just thank you… But in all seriousness just do what you think is best and if anyone has a problem with it then they can make like bird and get the flock out of here.
May 14, 2017 @ 3:07 pm
On a different matter, I have a problem with the website’s layout regarding the comment section. The post comment button is relatively smaller and less attention grabbing than the ‘Reply’ boxes, and this usually ends up in me clicking these boxes instead when trying to post a comment. Misclicking was fine for me at that point but the bigger problem was that you can’t restore your lost comment you failed to send due to misclicking. Please resize these boxes or make a way so that comments aren’t lost
May 14, 2017 @ 4:19 pm
Was wondering why this translation seemed different from most other ones. The story’s been one of my favorites so far and appreciate the effort on quality which to me it seems so many others forget. So keep doin’ what you’ve been doing.