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Falling in Love with the Captive Noce - Episode 3
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Akira: (So she's the Mia san everyone mentioned...)
Still seated behind Mia, Bradley languidly crossed his legs. He looked at Snow and Figaro with a quizzical stare.
Bradley: Who woulda guessed that Figaro and one half of the twins would come all the way out here.
Figaro: Only because you slipped us a little note.
We came to check on you, just in case something awful happened to you. Mitile and Kenja sama were worried sick too, you know.
Mitile: Yes, we were. Bradley san, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?
Bradley: Oh yeah? It's exactly what it looks like. Not a single hair on me's been harmed.
Bradley laughed and reached for his glass on the table.
Then it happened.
Bradley: Whoa!
Without warning, countless icy pillars spiked their way up through the floor.
They surrounded Bradley in an instant, forming the bars to a sturdy cage that imprisoned him.
Akira: Bradley!
The sound of high heels clicking against the floor resounded clear as day despite the blizzard.
Mia came to a stop before the cage. She stood with her leg just visible through the deep slit of her black dress.
I wondered if the object in her hand was her magical tool. She held a black whip that glowed faintly.
Mia: I have no intent of handing Bradley over. You will leave the castle behind this very instant.
Mithra: Hold on, I'm here too.
Mia: ... You're Tiletta's student, are you not?
Cease your yapping. I will deal with you in turn, after I am done with Snow and Figaro.
Mitile's eyes widened at the conversation unfolding before him.
Mitile: ... You're a witch of the North. Yet, you know Figaro sensei's name...?
Figaro sensei, are you both acquainted?
Figaro: Listen……… Yeah, I guess that’s what it looks like. Alright.
... Actually, in the past, I met her on one of my chance trips to Northern Country.
That one time... she fell in love with me at first sight, but I turned her down.
Mia: What nons—!
Mitile: Love at first sight...!
Rustica: Oh, I understand completely. After all, Figaro sensei is such a charming man.
Mithra: No, I think that's just bad taste.
Figaro: Long story short, I somehow became the target of her hatred. Though if you think about it, it’s only natural that a person wouldn’t want to cross paths again with someone that turned them down.
Mia, trembling with rage, tightened her grip around the handle of her whip.
Mia: Figaro, you wretched man… You spout whatever filth you’d like from that hideous mouth of yours.
I won't hold back anymore!
Bradley: Oi, Mia.
Mia: ... Tch, what is it! So even you wish to get in my way...
Bradley: Is this how you hold a conversation? By putting a guy in a cage for no reason, and then chatting with everyone else while he’s still stuck in it?
Mia: !
[ No BGM ]
Mia looked like she was thrown off-pace when she turned to look over her shoulder at Bradley, who was imprisoned in the cage of ice. Her voice wavered.
Mia: ... Aaah...
Why... Why are you in that sort of place...?
Bradley: (sigh) Why the hell are you the one asking that? You're the only one who could have done this.
You can tell just from this cage’s magical presence. There's no mistaking it.
Mia: ... I... this...
Bradley: Oh, what, you subconsciously did it?
[ The ice cage shatters. ]
[ BGM starts ]
Mia stood, dumbfounded, as the ice cage shattered into countless fragments.
Her forbidding presence from before was nowhere to be seen. In fact, the way she was right now reminded me of a child who had just endured a scolding.
In response to her emotions, the ferocious blizzard and winds gradually died down to nothing.
Akira: (Phew... Everything should be good for now...?)
(Mithra said that Mia san and Bradley used to make attempts on each other's lives...)
(But what I imagined from his description is very different from what I just witnessed.)
Bradley: Hey, Mia—
Mia: Silence!
Bradley: .........
Mia: Bradley, I have no intention of letting you go.
Bradley: And why is that?
Mia: ... If I were to hand you over to those people, you will only be jailed again.
But if you were to stay here, I would personally see to your needs.
You shall have the finest clothing, indulge in the most lavish of feasts, and live in a safe and warm place.
You shall enjoy every moment of your life in this castle until the time comes that I decide to claim your life.
Bradley: .........
Snow: Oho...
Figaro: Go on...
Nero: .........
Mia spoke her words like they were a command.
Slowly, Bradley crossed his arms. He kept his eyes on her. His gaze had turned cold and pointed, like a sharpened dagger.
Bradley: You're tellin' me to be a good little boy and listen to you because you'll be giving me all that good stuff? Who do you take the Great Bradley for?
Besides, there's something you've gotten wrong.
If I get out of here, the place I'm returnin' to isn't prison — it's the Magical Manor.
Mia: What is this manor?
Bradley: Oh. Okay, so you know I’m one of the Sage’s Wizards, right?
Bradley turned towards me, and our eyes met, mine against his rose-coloured ones.
Bradley: This person here is the Sage. Under her recommendation, I’ve got an arrangement now where I live at the manor.
It's nothing like a prison — there's good food to be had at the Magical Manor. Oh, and there's also this tailor that hooks you up with sweet outfits.
I’ve got to give the senior citizens the time of day, but for the most part I’ve got some freedom and the ability to move about in broad daylight.
Mia: What a joke... That sort of boring* place hardly suits you.
Bradley: And this place here is best for me?
Bradley's question was met with silence. Mia strode towards Bradley and boldly stood before him.
Her stance seemed to imply that she would not let Bradley slip through her fingers; she looked like she was about to clamp her jaws around his throat.
Bradley: .........
Alright then. If you really want me to stay and not go back, then let's make a bet.
Mia: A bet?
Bradley: That’s right. If I win, I walk right out of your castle, just like this.
And if you win...
I'll be yours. How's that?
Mia: What foolishness...
Your plan is needlessly convoluted. I see no reason to go along with it when I can chase all of these people back whence they came and achieve the same result.
Do not make me repeat myself. You are my prey. I will not let anyone else have you.
Bradley: Are we ignoring what my heart says?
Mia: Yes, we are. I do not need to understand the hearts of those I have defeated. They will obey regardless.
Bradley: If that's how you’re going to be, then I’ve got a thing or two to say about it.
In a split second, Bradley had drawn a pistol with his magic.
He swiftly cocked it and held its muzzle up to his temple.
Akira & Mitile: No way...!?
Nero: Oi...!
Mia: ... What are you trying to accomplish?
Bradley: You want to kill me with your own hands, right?
So if you don't take me up on that bet, I'll pull the trigger right here, right now.
I’ll let you bear witness as your prey slips away, right before your very eyes.
Mia: ... Tch.
Mithra: Huh...? You want to turn to stone by your own hand?
There was nothing but silence in the aftermath of Mithra's question.
Bradley kept his finger on the trigger, but his eyes were searching for something.
The atmosphere gradually grew more tense. I could hear my heart beating in my ears, and I felt my skin grow cold and clammy.
Murr: What a bold play, Bradley! That's the gambler's spirit!
Nero: Brad...! The hell, that's—
Mia: Very well.
Mitile: She’s…!
Bradley: .........
Mia: I'll take you up on your suggestion. So lower that pistol of yours.
Mia sounded terribly bitter as she said those words.
The atmosphere finally relaxed a little after Bradley put his gun away.
... But I couldn't help but wonder why Bradley looked as bitter as Mia did after he heard her reply.
Mia: ... So, let’s have it. What are we betting on?
Bradley: Anything's fine.
You did accept my proposal. I'll leave it to you to choose what we're betting on.
Mia: ... Know that you will come to regret those words of yours, and it will be too late by then.
Bradley: Heh. I’m no sore loser.
Mia: .........
Then, a Benedetta fruit...
Bradley: What about it?
Mia: Yes. I want you to find a Benedetta fruit and bring it to me.
Mitile & Akira: ... Isn't that...
Akira: (The Fruit of Victory that Rustica had talked about?)
Mitile and I stared wide-eyed at Mia. Neither of us had expected her to utter the name of that fruit.
Mia: I will allow you until sunset. If you do not bring me the fruit by then, it shall be my victory.
And — you will leave behind hostages.
Bradley, if you renege on this, I will kill them all.
Snow & Figaro: Er.
Murr & Rustica: Wow!
Mithra: What a roundabout way of doing things. Isn't it simply faster to kill them all and put an end to things?
Mitile & Nero & Akira: .........
Bradley held the gaze and rapt attention, Mia’s included, of every single one of us in the room.
We all awaited his answer with bated breath.
Bradley stood, nonchalant and cool, in the middle of the hall. His lips parted to answer:
Bradley: ... I understand. Alright then.
[ No BGM ]
Bradley: The game is on, Mia.
[ Northern Country - Open Plains ]
Mithra: « arsim »
[ Door sfx ]
[ BGM starts ]
Bradley: (long exhale)...... Fresh air, sweet fresh air.
Bradley looked very comfortable as he stretched out after leaving Mithra's transpatial door.
The members Bradley had picked to come with him for the Benedetta fruit hunt were myself, Mithra, and Mitile.
'If you intend to come and go from my castle, then you shall wear the appropriate attire,' was what Mia said as she put us all in new outfits before sending us on our way.
Akira: Bradley, I really am glad you're fine.
Mitile: Did Mia san ever try to attack you before we arrived?
Bradley: Stop fussin’ over me. She did nothing of the sort.
The worst she did was to keep me under watch all day long, which meant I couldn’t leave the castle.
Anyway, I'm counting on you guys today. We've got to find ourselves a Benedetta fruit, then get ourselves back to her castle. By sunset.
Mitile & Akira: Yessir!
Bradley's words made for good motivation.
If we didn't manage to find the fruit, then Bradley would belong to Mia.
On the other hand, if we let Bradley escape, the five wizards held hostage in Mia's castle would be turned to stone.
Akira: (In other words, I've got to get everyone back to the Magical Manor in one piece. And to achieve that, we've got to find a Benedetta fruit, somehow!)
Mithra: Bradley, do you have any clues as to the whereabouts of this Benedetta fruit?
Bradley: Of course I do.
* namanurui 生ぬるい — This is a recurring word from the main story. It's been used by Northern wizards to negatively describe how other Northern wizards have changed, e.g. going soft, lacking verve, and being less stereotypically Northern, since coming to live at the Manor.
next episode ⭢
Akira: (So she's the Mia san everyone mentioned...)
Still seated behind Mia, Bradley languidly crossed his legs. He looked at Snow and Figaro with a quizzical stare.
Bradley: Who woulda guessed that Figaro and one half of the twins would come all the way out here.
Figaro: Only because you slipped us a little note.
We came to check on you, just in case something awful happened to you. Mitile and Kenja sama were worried sick too, you know.
Mitile: Yes, we were. Bradley san, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?
Bradley: Oh yeah? It's exactly what it looks like. Not a single hair on me's been harmed.
Bradley laughed and reached for his glass on the table.
Then it happened.
Bradley: Whoa!
Without warning, countless icy pillars spiked their way up through the floor.
They surrounded Bradley in an instant, forming the bars to a sturdy cage that imprisoned him.
Akira: Bradley!
The sound of high heels clicking against the floor resounded clear as day despite the blizzard.
Mia came to a stop before the cage. She stood with her leg just visible through the deep slit of her black dress.
I wondered if the object in her hand was her magical tool. She held a black whip that glowed faintly.
Mia: I have no intent of handing Bradley over. You will leave the castle behind this very instant.
Mithra: Hold on, I'm here too.
Mia: ... You're Tiletta's student, are you not?
Cease your yapping. I will deal with you in turn, after I am done with Snow and Figaro.
Mitile's eyes widened at the conversation unfolding before him.
Mitile: ... You're a witch of the North. Yet, you know Figaro sensei's name...?
Figaro sensei, are you both acquainted?
Figaro: Listen……… Yeah, I guess that’s what it looks like. Alright.
... Actually, in the past, I met her on one of my chance trips to Northern Country.
That one time... she fell in love with me at first sight, but I turned her down.
Mia: What nons—!
Mitile: Love at first sight...!
Rustica: Oh, I understand completely. After all, Figaro sensei is such a charming man.
Mithra: No, I think that's just bad taste.
Figaro: Long story short, I somehow became the target of her hatred. Though if you think about it, it’s only natural that a person wouldn’t want to cross paths again with someone that turned them down.
Mia, trembling with rage, tightened her grip around the handle of her whip.
Mia: Figaro, you wretched man… You spout whatever filth you’d like from that hideous mouth of yours.
I won't hold back anymore!
Bradley: Oi, Mia.
Mia: ... Tch, what is it! So even you wish to get in my way...
Bradley: Is this how you hold a conversation? By putting a guy in a cage for no reason, and then chatting with everyone else while he’s still stuck in it?
Mia: !
[ No BGM ]
Mia looked like she was thrown off-pace when she turned to look over her shoulder at Bradley, who was imprisoned in the cage of ice. Her voice wavered.
Mia: ... Aaah...
Why... Why are you in that sort of place...?
Bradley: (sigh) Why the hell are you the one asking that? You're the only one who could have done this.
You can tell just from this cage’s magical presence. There's no mistaking it.
Mia: ... I... this...
Bradley: Oh, what, you subconsciously did it?
[ The ice cage shatters. ]
[ BGM starts ]
Mia stood, dumbfounded, as the ice cage shattered into countless fragments.
Her forbidding presence from before was nowhere to be seen. In fact, the way she was right now reminded me of a child who had just endured a scolding.
In response to her emotions, the ferocious blizzard and winds gradually died down to nothing.
Akira: (Phew... Everything should be good for now...?)
(Mithra said that Mia san and Bradley used to make attempts on each other's lives...)
(But what I imagined from his description is very different from what I just witnessed.)
Bradley: Hey, Mia—
Mia: Silence!
Bradley: .........
Mia: Bradley, I have no intention of letting you go.
Bradley: And why is that?
Mia: ... If I were to hand you over to those people, you will only be jailed again.
But if you were to stay here, I would personally see to your needs.
You shall have the finest clothing, indulge in the most lavish of feasts, and live in a safe and warm place.
You shall enjoy every moment of your life in this castle until the time comes that I decide to claim your life.
Bradley: .........
Snow: Oho...
Figaro: Go on...
Nero: .........
Mia spoke her words like they were a command.
Slowly, Bradley crossed his arms. He kept his eyes on her. His gaze had turned cold and pointed, like a sharpened dagger.
Bradley: You're tellin' me to be a good little boy and listen to you because you'll be giving me all that good stuff? Who do you take the Great Bradley for?
Besides, there's something you've gotten wrong.
If I get out of here, the place I'm returnin' to isn't prison — it's the Magical Manor.
Mia: What is this manor?
Bradley: Oh. Okay, so you know I’m one of the Sage’s Wizards, right?
Bradley turned towards me, and our eyes met, mine against his rose-coloured ones.
Bradley: This person here is the Sage. Under her recommendation, I’ve got an arrangement now where I live at the manor.
It's nothing like a prison — there's good food to be had at the Magical Manor. Oh, and there's also this tailor that hooks you up with sweet outfits.
I’ve got to give the senior citizens the time of day, but for the most part I’ve got some freedom and the ability to move about in broad daylight.
Mia: What a joke... That sort of boring* place hardly suits you.
Bradley: And this place here is best for me?
Bradley's question was met with silence. Mia strode towards Bradley and boldly stood before him.
Her stance seemed to imply that she would not let Bradley slip through her fingers; she looked like she was about to clamp her jaws around his throat.
Bradley: .........
Alright then. If you really want me to stay and not go back, then let's make a bet.
Mia: A bet?
Bradley: That’s right. If I win, I walk right out of your castle, just like this.
And if you win...
I'll be yours. How's that?
Mia: What foolishness...
Your plan is needlessly convoluted. I see no reason to go along with it when I can chase all of these people back whence they came and achieve the same result.
Do not make me repeat myself. You are my prey. I will not let anyone else have you.
Bradley: Are we ignoring what my heart says?
Mia: Yes, we are. I do not need to understand the hearts of those I have defeated. They will obey regardless.
Bradley: If that's how you’re going to be, then I’ve got a thing or two to say about it.
In a split second, Bradley had drawn a pistol with his magic.
He swiftly cocked it and held its muzzle up to his temple.
Akira & Mitile: No way...!?
Nero: Oi...!
Mia: ... What are you trying to accomplish?
Bradley: You want to kill me with your own hands, right?
So if you don't take me up on that bet, I'll pull the trigger right here, right now.
I’ll let you bear witness as your prey slips away, right before your very eyes.
Mia: ... Tch.
Mithra: Huh...? You want to turn to stone by your own hand?
There was nothing but silence in the aftermath of Mithra's question.
Bradley kept his finger on the trigger, but his eyes were searching for something.
The atmosphere gradually grew more tense. I could hear my heart beating in my ears, and I felt my skin grow cold and clammy.
Murr: What a bold play, Bradley! That's the gambler's spirit!
Nero: Brad...! The hell, that's—
Mia: Very well.
Mitile: She’s…!
Bradley: .........
Mia: I'll take you up on your suggestion. So lower that pistol of yours.
Mia sounded terribly bitter as she said those words.
The atmosphere finally relaxed a little after Bradley put his gun away.
... But I couldn't help but wonder why Bradley looked as bitter as Mia did after he heard her reply.
Mia: ... So, let’s have it. What are we betting on?
Bradley: Anything's fine.
You did accept my proposal. I'll leave it to you to choose what we're betting on.
Mia: ... Know that you will come to regret those words of yours, and it will be too late by then.
Bradley: Heh. I’m no sore loser.
Mia: .........
Then, a Benedetta fruit...
Bradley: What about it?
Mia: Yes. I want you to find a Benedetta fruit and bring it to me.
Mitile & Akira: ... Isn't that...
Akira: (The Fruit of Victory that Rustica had talked about?)
Mitile and I stared wide-eyed at Mia. Neither of us had expected her to utter the name of that fruit.
Mia: I will allow you until sunset. If you do not bring me the fruit by then, it shall be my victory.
And — you will leave behind hostages.
Bradley, if you renege on this, I will kill them all.
Snow & Figaro: Er.
Murr & Rustica: Wow!
Mithra: What a roundabout way of doing things. Isn't it simply faster to kill them all and put an end to things?
Mitile & Nero & Akira: .........
Bradley held the gaze and rapt attention, Mia’s included, of every single one of us in the room.
We all awaited his answer with bated breath.
Bradley stood, nonchalant and cool, in the middle of the hall. His lips parted to answer:
Bradley: ... I understand. Alright then.
[ No BGM ]
Bradley: The game is on, Mia.
[ Northern Country - Open Plains ]
Mithra: « arsim »
[ Door sfx ]
[ BGM starts ]
Bradley: (long exhale)...... Fresh air, sweet fresh air.
Bradley looked very comfortable as he stretched out after leaving Mithra's transpatial door.
The members Bradley had picked to come with him for the Benedetta fruit hunt were myself, Mithra, and Mitile.
'If you intend to come and go from my castle, then you shall wear the appropriate attire,' was what Mia said as she put us all in new outfits before sending us on our way.
Akira: Bradley, I really am glad you're fine.
Mitile: Did Mia san ever try to attack you before we arrived?
Bradley: Stop fussin’ over me. She did nothing of the sort.
The worst she did was to keep me under watch all day long, which meant I couldn’t leave the castle.
Anyway, I'm counting on you guys today. We've got to find ourselves a Benedetta fruit, then get ourselves back to her castle. By sunset.
Mitile & Akira: Yessir!
Bradley's words made for good motivation.
If we didn't manage to find the fruit, then Bradley would belong to Mia.
On the other hand, if we let Bradley escape, the five wizards held hostage in Mia's castle would be turned to stone.
Akira: (In other words, I've got to get everyone back to the Magical Manor in one piece. And to achieve that, we've got to find a Benedetta fruit, somehow!)
Mithra: Bradley, do you have any clues as to the whereabouts of this Benedetta fruit?
Bradley: Of course I do.
* namanurui 生ぬるい — This is a recurring word from the main story. It's been used by Northern wizards to negatively describe how other Northern wizards have changed, e.g. going soft, lacking verve, and being less stereotypically Northern, since coming to live at the Manor.
next episode ⭢