Innocence Seekers: April Light/Chapter 3/Episode 36

This is the twelfth episode, "The Donsilans' Witch" (ドーンシラン達の魔女), of the third chapter of Innocence Seekers: April Light.

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Episode text
A few days after the Donsilan fleet was driven away, Uzuki and her friends found themselves in the staff room of Mihara Elementary School before the beginning of the school day. Sitting beside them was Junko Nakawa, one of the teachers of the school.

–Uzuki: It has indeed been a while since I stepped into this building.

–Nakawa: Indeed it has. But I still remember your first day here. You came clinging to your sister right up until everyone went into thier classrooms.

Uzuki's face turned red in embarrassment.

–Wakaba: I knew how close you were to Yayoi, but to cling on to her even when you should've gone your own way...

–Uzuki: Wakaba...

–Aoi: But you should still have friends here, right?

–Uzuki: Ah, well...

–Wakaba: Aoi... do you even remember most of our classmates from the first grade?

–Benio: But still, Uzuki, there should at least be one person you're still friends with.

–Uzuki: Ah, right. My penfriend, with whom I've been in contact for all this time. I'm sure she'll be happy to see me again.

–Aoi: But what if we're not going to be in the same class?

–Uzuki: Ah...

–Nakawa: Anyway... you'll all be assigned to the same class. I'll be your homeroom teacher.

–Uzuki: Ah, okay. Anyway, umm... what do we do until homeroom?

–Wakaba: How about we take a look around the school?

–Uzuki: Wait, if you're going to do that, then leave without me.

–Wakaba: Uzuki? What's the matter?

–Aoi: Wakaba, are you just going to drag Uzuki in front of girls she has never met before in her life? You should know this already; Uzuki doesn't like crowds.

–Benio: Then how about calling everyone here?

Aoi slapped Benio.

–Aoi: Did you listen to what I just said?!

–Nakawa: Now, now, no need to fight here.

–Uzuki: This does tend to happen every now and then. Although, usually it's because Wakaba and Benio were fighting that situations like this erupt.

–Nakawa: Anyway, I think it'd be best for you four to wait here.

–Uzuki: Okay, then.

After around ten minutes the bell rang.

–Nakawa: Ah, that's the bell. Everyone, please follow me.

Nakawa led the four girls to their new classroom. At the pace they went, by the time they reached the classroom, everyone had gone inside. Nakawa stopped right outside the door.

–Nakawa: Please wait here.

–Uzuki: Okay.

Nakawa entered the classroom, which had six empty seats out of thirty, due to students transferring to other schools, or being involved in exchange. She took her position at the front of the classroom.

–Nakawa: Everyone, I hope that all of you have had a good winter break. Now I know some of you might not want to be here right now, but you must all understand that it is important for you to attend, for your own futures. Now, I have an important announcement to make before we begin.

Nakawa turned towards the door.

–Nakawa: Come in, girls.

The four girls entered the classroom, while Nakawa wrote their names on the blackboard.

–Nakawa: Please introduce yourselves.

–Benio: Uzuki, you're first.

–Uzuki: Eh?

Benio pushed Uzuki forward.

–Uzuki: Ah, umm, uh...

Uzuki paused for a moment.

–Uzuki: Umm, I am Uzuki Miyana. It's... it's a pleasure to meet you all...

Uzuki bowed down, deliberately avoiding eye contact with the girls of the class. After the applause, Uzuki moved to the back. Wakaba stepped forward.

–Wakaba: Hello, everyone! I'm Wakaba Harumi, and I'm transferring here alongside Uzuki. Everyone, I'm looking forward to working with all of you!

Wakaba winked. Aoi gave her a nudge.

–Aoi: Wakaba, was all of that really necessary?

–Wakaba: Who cares?

–Aoi: Anyway, it's my turn.

Wakaba stepped backwards, while Aoi stepped forward.

–Aoi: My name is Aoi Higasa. I'm hoping that I can work together with you for the time we'll be in the same class.

Aoi stepped backwards after bowing to the class, and noticed Benio goofing around.

–Aoi: Benio, it's your turn now.

–Benio: Ah, right.

Benio stepped forward.

–Benio: Well, Benio Shinokura here. Like the others, I also came here with Uzuki. It's nice to meet all of you, and I hope we can be friends.

After the final round of applause, Nakawa continued.

–Nakawa: And that concludes the introductions. Girls, please head to your assigned seats.

–Uzuki: Yes, Nakawa-sensei.

The girls took their seats. While all four were separated, Uzuki, fortuitously for her, got a back corner seat with no one sitting next to her.

At the lunch break, the girls of the class did what anyone would have expected when new students transferred in. They all crowded around Uzuki.

–Girl A: Miyana, tell me about Japan?

–Girl B: Yeah, what was it like in Tokyo?

–Girl C: Do you have any hobbies or interests?

–Girl D: How about sports?

–Girl E: Wait, isn't it true that your sister helped save the world?

Right in the middle of the crowd, Uzuki was completely frozen, unable to respond to the barrage of questions. And while Wakaba had formed her own crowd, Aoi and Benio were largely left alone.

–Benio: Of all the things to happen...

–Aoi: Well, those girls can't help it. And Wakaba was the most popular girl in our class back in Mimori.

–Benio: But shouldn't we do something about Uzuki?

–Aoi: Actually, someone might be on to it.

Aoi pointed towards the lone girl walking somewhat angrily towards the crowd surrounding Uzuki.

–Benio: Ah, her. Who is she, though.

Meanwhile, the girl forced herself through the crowd.

–?????: Everyone, out of the way! Can't you see that Uzuki isn't at all comfortable with your advances?!

–Benio: Ah, she's already referring to Uzuki by her given name.

The girl made her way into the middle of the crowd.

–?????: Uzuki... Uzuki!

The girl promptly hugged Uzuki.

–Uzuki: Ah-

–?????: Uzuki... I've missed you so much! For all this time, I really wanted to meet you!

–Uzuki: Can't... breathe...

–?????: Ah, sorry.

The girl let go. Meanwhile, Aoi and Benio approached.

–Aoi: Um, what's going on? Uzuki, who is she?

–Uzuki: Ah, let me introduce her. She's my penfriend.

–Benio: What?!

–?????: That's right. Oh, by the way, my name's Park Eun-Yeong.

–Benio: Wait, you're Korean? But I thought Namari was a Japanese nation

Aoi gave Benio a nudge.

–Aoi: Benio, Namari is a multicultural society, unlike Japan. Around thirty per cent of Namari's citizens are of Korean descent, like her.

–Benio: Ah, if you say so.

–Aoi: Anyway, how did you two become friends?

–Eun-Yeong: Well, it was when Uzuki and I first came to this school. I'm sure you know just how clingy Uzuki can be with regards to her older sisters, right?

–Benio: Ah, we know about that.

–Uzuki: You don't have to say that!

–Benio: Oh, come on, everyone knows about your siscon tendencies.

Uzuki's face turned red, while Aoi slapped Benio. Eun-Yeong continued.

–Eun-Yeong: When we went to class for the first time, I noticed that Uzuki was alone, and she shied away from even interacting with the other girls. Even during lunch breaks she would run off to be with her sister.

–Uzuki: However, Eun-Yeong approached me when I was alone one day. At the time Yayoi-nee and the others weren't at school, so I felt really lonely. In my short time at Mihara, she was my only friend. We exchanged details, so we were able to stay in touch even when my mother sent me to Japan.

–Eun-Yeong: About your mother, Uzuki...

–Uzuki: I know. I have to move on. We all have to move on.

–Aoi: However, many of us have figured out who the culprit is.

–Eun-Yeong: Who is this person who murdered Uzuki's parents? I want to take him or her on!

–Aoi: But I'm sure you won't stand a chance. This person is extremely powerful; otherwise how could Uzuki's mother have lost?

–Eun-Yeong: I guess you're right. I thought I was a rather strong magical girl myself, but Michiru showed me the error of my thinking. The gap between us is so vast I don't think I'll be able to traverse it. And from what I've heard, Uzuki has the potential to be even more powerful than Akari.

–Aoi: Wait, really?

–Uzuki: Well, that's what Inorin told me.

–Aoi: I see. Anyway...

Suddenly there was an alarm. Everyone in the classroom stopped.

–Benio: What's going on?

–Eun-Yeong: Monsters.

–Aoi: Monsters? Here, of all places?

–Eun-Yeong: Admittedly, though, the last time I heard this particular alarm was right after Uzuki left for Japan.

–Aoi: Benio, you know what this means, right?

–Benio: Right. Let's head to the staff room and inform Nakawa-sensei.

–Uzuki: Ah, okay.

–Eun-Yeong: Wait... I'll come as well.

–Uzuki: Are you sure? I haven't seen you fight, so...

–Aoi: If it's just a few monsters I don't see the harm.

–Uzuki: Ah, okay.

The four girls exited the classroom.

–Wakaba: Ah, don't forget about me!

Wakaba followed the other girls.

In the staff room:

–Nakawa: So you're saying you'll handle things here?

–Uzuki: That's right.

–Nakawa: It's hard to believe that, of all times, a monster attack has to occur on the day you transfer in. But we'll allow you to meet the threat. I'll tell the others to bolster the school buildings' defences and order everyone inside.

–Uzuki: Please do so. Leave the threat to us.

–Nakawa: Okay, then. Just be careful.

–Uzuki: We will.

The girls headed out of the staff room and outside the building.

–Wakaba: Wait, where are they coming from?

–Eun-Yeong: I believe they're at the eastern side of the school complex.

–Wakaba: With that said, since when did we get a fifth party member?

–Benio: Wakaba, now's not the time. We need to take care of this quickly.

–Wakaba: Ah, right.

The five girls ran towards the eastern side of the complex, where they saw a portal to a witch space.

–Aoi: A witch?

–Uzuki: And it looks like this witch is hostile.

Familiars poured out of the portal. The girls changed into their mage outfits.

–Uzuki: Is something the matter, Eun-Yeong?

–Eun-Yeong: It's just... I've never fought a witch before. Just how powerful are they?

–Aoi: Well, to an ordinary magical girl, a witch is a near-insurmountable barrier. Their familiars can easily tear tanks to shreds, and the witch herself can take on an army of mages and win.

–Eun-Yeong: That's not very comforting...

–Benio: Well, you won't know your true strength until you need to use it.

–Eun-Yeong: Ah, okay. Anyway, let me handle the familiars.

–Uzuki: Right.

A cyan magic circle appeared beneath Eun-Yeong's feet.

–Eun-Yeong: O ethereal spirits, strike down my foes with your divine flames. Fire Lance!

Several spears of flame appeared and were thrown straight towards the familiars, severely burning them and incapacitating them.

–Wakaba: You use fire magic?

–Eun-Yeong: Not just that. I don't specialise in an element, so if need be, I can call upon ice or the wind.

–Benio: With that said, you used an incantation for just a basic spell, even if it's just a short one.

–Eun-Yeong: Is there something weird about that?

–Aoi: It's true that using an incantation increases the power of one's spells. But most of us don't use incantations for basic spells, as often the gains in power do not adequately compensate for the longer casting times. In the time it took you to hurl fifteen fire lances, I could throw over two hundred icicles.

–Eun-Yeong: I see. You value speed over power. That said, do you use incantations at all?

–Uzuki: I'm not sure about the others, but my Inherent Ability's associated Full Burst Skill can use an incantation. It's a poem Mutsuki-nee taught me, and if I use it, it improves the spell's effectiveness to the point where I can obliterate cities and spaceships. I typically skip the incantation when I need to cast it on a single target. But incantation or no incantation, it uses well over half my mana, and I can only use it once every eight hours.

–Eun-Yeong: Is that so? Wait... your Inherent Ability is that powerful?

–Wakaba: Umm, I think we should head inside the witch space.

–Uzuki: Ah, right!

Wakaba shot an arrow into the portal, opening it up. The girls then entered the witch space.

The girls made their way through the winding corridors of the witch space, taking out any familiars they come across.

–Eun-Yeong: Umm, everyone...

–Uzuki: What is it?

–Eun-Yeong: Just how long until we actually get to the witch herself? It feels like we're running through an endless tunnel filled with familiars.

–Aoi: It can feel that way. Hima-nee once told me that she once spent three hours just searching for the witch inside her witch space.

–Eun-Yeong: It's just that... I'm concerned with my mana reserves.

Wakaba took out a mana potion from her bag.

–Wakaba: Well, we do have these potions for a reason. Although, we should only use them when we really need to use them; unlike Tamaki, I can't carry that much.

–Eun-Yeong: I see. Anyway, what if one of us gets injured?

–Wakaba: I'm the primary healer. Although, in a pinch, Uzuki can help as well.

–Aoi: Anyway, we shouldn't be standing here; let's go.

–Uzuki: Ah, right.

The girls continued on their way.

Eventually, they reached the room where the witch was. What they saw surprised everyone, but especially Eun-Yeong.

–Eun-Yeong: Wait... that little girl is the witch who's attacking the school?

–Uzuki: Looks like it. Which tells me that she's a witch by blood.

–Eun-Yeong: A witch by blood? What do you mean?

–Aoi: Most witches obtain their powers through deals with demons. Witches by blood, on the other hand, are half-mortal, half-demon. There are only two possible outcomes from such an unholy union. If the child is male, then he will effectively be yet another demon. The result if the child is female is as you see. A girl who looks just like any ordinary girl, but who stops growing sometime before puberty.

–Eun-Yeong: So that means... she's way older than she looks, right?

–Aoi: Most likely. Witches by blood are the only offspring of demons who are not inherently evil, although many do perform evil deeds anyway. The main issue with them, though, is that they are far more powerful than an ordinary witch, since they are the only witches who are also Innocents.

–Eun-Yeong: Then... let's retreat, and call for someone more powerful to take care of her.

Uzuki stepped forward.

–Uzuki: No. We will take care of her, ourselves.

–Eun-Yeong: Uzuki, it's as Aoi said. She's extremely powerful; there's no way we can defeat her.

Wakaba, Aoi and Benio stepped forward as well.

–Benio: Ah, you weren't there when we fought Orialla.

–Eun-Yeong: Who?

–Uzuki: The witch with whom I'm contracted.

–Eun-Yeong: Contracted?

–Aoi: Witches by blood can form contracts with magical girls, granting both advantages and near-complete immunity to death. Anyway, Eun-Yeong, are you going to fight with us?

–Eun-Yeong: I...

Eun-Yeong pondered for a moment, then stepped forward.

–Eun-Yeong: I'll fight.

–Uzuki: Okay, then. It looks like we've kept the witch waiting for a fair bit, though.

The witch stepped towards the girls.

–?????: Ah, so it seems you've come.

–Uzuki: Why did you attack the school?

–?????: Well, let's just say that we intend to break the backbone of the human resistance.

–Eun-Yeong: "Human resistance"? What do you mean?

–?????: This galaxy belongs to the Donsilans, does it not?

–Uzuki: So you're a part of Alcea's faction! If so, then I will show no mercy! Prepare yourself, fiend!

–?????: Is that how it is? Very well. I have no choice but to obliterate you!

The witch fired a massive barrage of red beams straight toward the girls, forcing them to put up shields to protect themselves.

–?????: Ah, how rude of me not to introduce myself before attacking. I am Berdela. Although I suppose it'd be pointless, seeing as you'll die soon.

–Uzuki: We won't die. We will defeat you, Berdela. I know you've attacked the school specifically to fish me out, so I won't bother introducing myself.

–Berdela: Ah, right. Uzuki, was it? Well, prepare to say farewell to this plane.

Berdela proceeded to send hundreds of flaming spears straight towards the girls. Wakaba countered by shooting a single arrow towards the spears, and when it came within a few metres, it exploded, causing the flames to dissipate.

–Eun-Yeong: Wakaba... just how powerful are you and the others?

–Wakaba: Well, you'll see soon enough.

A green magic circle appeared beneath Wakaba's feet, and she aimed her bow at the witch. A green arrow appeared in the bow.

–Wakaba: O spirits of the wind, shape the air into arrows and pierce my enemy. Secret Skill, Wind Arrow Storm!

Wakaba shot the arrow, which split into hundreds of arrows and rapidly-moving columns of air mid-flight. Berdela noticed the attack and put up a barrier; however, the sheer force of the attack caused it to shatter, and she was struck by around a dozen arrows.

–Berdela: You think I'll just stand here and take your attacks?

Berdela took out her spear and charged straight towards Wakaba. However, right at the last moment, Wakaba swerved away and shot an arrow into Berdela's spear, knocking it out of her hand.

–Wakaba: Is it just me, or are you too slow?

–Berdela: Grr...

Meanwhile, Benio launched an attack, attempting to punch Berdela from behind. However, Berdela noticed this and reacted by firing a magic beam, knocking Benio into the air.

–Wakaba: Benio!

Wakaba leapt towards Benio.

–Berdela: And I suppose by going to that other girl, she has left you alone.

At that point, Eun-Yeong just realised that she was all along against the witch. She was frozen in thought, just as Berdela threw a massive flaming spear towards her.

–Eun-Yeong: !

There was almost no time to react to the spear, as it was flying very quickly through the air. However, Eun-Yeong saw the spear being knocked away when it was only a metre from her. She turned her gaze, and saw Aoi, with spear in hand.

–Aoi: Are you okay?

–Eun-Yeong: I guess so. Thanks, Aoi.

–Aoi: Anyway, we need to be on our guard. This witch is extremely powerful.

–Eun-Yeong: Okay.

Eun-Yeong looked at her weapon, a crossbow formed from her magic device.

–Eun-Yeong: I guess it's my turn now.

She aimed her crossbow at the witch, and shot a barrage of magic arrows at her. Berdela reacted by putting up a barrier; however, the barrier shattered after only a few seconds, and as a result Berdela took some damage from the assault.

–Eun-Yeong: And next up is...

Eun-Yeong began to cast a spell, and a cyan magic circle appeared beneat her feet. Berdela noticed this and threw two massive fireballs straight towards the two girls; however, Aoi deflected one of them. The other remained on course towards Eun-Yeong when...

–Eun-Yeong: Earth Glaive!

The ground parted, revealing a giant glaive composed entirely of rock. It effortlessly destroyed the remaining fireball, and was launched towards Berdela. Berdela attempted to destroy the glaive; however, her magic beam only managed to destroy the shield that was protecting it, and as a result the beam lost most of its power by the time it touched the glaive. It was too late for her to put up a barrier; the glaive struck at full power, and Berdela was sent flying.

–Eun-Yeong: Did we do it?

–Aoi: I don't think so...

Berdela almost immediately got back up. Meanwhile, Wakaba, who was in the process of healing Benio, saw a large yellow magic circle above Berdela.

–Wakaba: Everyone, here it comes! To the air!

–Aoi: Ah, right.

The girls took flight in response to Uzuki's spell. Berdela also noticed the spell; however...

–Uzuki: Thunderbolt!

The magic circle emitted a massive bolt of lightning, sending a massive shock through Berdela's body.

End of Episode 36

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Commentary
As I've mentioned before, Namari is a multicultural society; there is a reason I never refer to the people of Namari as Japanese. In fact, Namari was a separate (albeit related) culture from Japan even as far back as AD 300. Unlike the cultures of many nation-states, past and present, Namari culture sees any artificial distinction between groups of people as a sin (before anyone asks, its perception of states is that they are governmental entities, only in place due to practicalities, and it also espouses porous borders, allowing citizens from a vast number of countries visa-free access), and espouses the harmonious coexistence of all people, regardless of race, as an ideal. While Namari society readily integrates people from other cultures, it vehemently opposes forced integration (e.g. military conquest, missionary work), which has coloured its perception of certain other cultures and religions.

As of Innocence Seekers: April Light, only 55 per cent of Namari's population are of Japanese descent. As mentioned above, 30 per cent are of Korean descent. In addition, nine per cent are "European" (this includes both Blylandic and Pimbic, which form the vast majority of those of "European" descent), four per cent are indigenous, and one per cent of the population are Guruni or Nodaimese, with the remaining one per cent being "Other".

(A side note to the "porous borders" that Namari implements: yes, this theoretically allows "bad people" into the country. However, there are magic-based monitoring systems in place that can detect whether one is about to commit a crime or an act of terror before the act happens, without encroaching on privacy. As such, Namari's crime rate is almost zero, and it is almost impossible to actually commit a (major) crime or an act of terror without going into a battle with police officers or soldiers.)

Translation notes
In case if anyone wants to translate this episode, I may post some translation guides. These may or may not be specific to translations to specific languages.

Note: The English version as published here is the original version and the "master copy" when it comes to translations. It is highly advised that all translations come from this version. Also note that you are encouraged to look at the translation guides of previous episodes; I will not repeat guides from earlier episodes here.

General

 * Eun-Yeong's name is written in hanja as 朴恩英.
 * Incantations should be in somewhat archaic language.