04x14 - Hasse no Batsu

[bunniefuu]

Rosemyne defeated the Lord of Winter and
finally obtained her first material.

Meanwhile, in the town of Hasse...

If Hasse is destroyed,
it'll be your fault!

That's right!

That's just a rumor.

But, according to the merchants,

attacking the monastery counts
as treason against the lord,

so the whole town could
easily be wiped out.

Treason?!

I didn't know anything about that!

We were just following orders!

Don't take the rumors of
the merchants seriously!

It'll be fine. I'm sure the former
high bishop will take care of this.

The former high bishop
has already passed away.

What?

Is that true?

Don't lie!

I'm not lying!

According to the rumors
among the merchants,

the new high bishop is
the Archduke's daughter.

Apparently, the compassionate
high bishop has been worried

that the townspeople who didn't
take part in the attack

will be caught up in the punishment.

They say the new high
bishop is so compassionate

that she is considered a living saint.

We should ask the high bishop to
intercede with the lord on our behalf.

That's right! That's right!

Don't be fooled by Richt's words!

You have to do something about this!

Ascendance of a Bookworm:
Adopted Daughter of an Archduke

Episode 14
Hasse's Punishment

The pure and flowing waters
of the Goddess Fruhtrane

have swept away the God of Life Ewigleben,

rescuing the Goddess of Earth Geduldh.

A blessing upon the melting snow!

A blessing!

A blessing!

The banquet celebrating the
arrival of spring has begun.

First, we shall announce the this year's
top students at the Royal Academy.

Next, commemorative gifts were
presented to the top students.

Then academic rankings were
announced. After that...

There has been a significant improvement

in the children's academic
performance this winter.

I attribute this change
not only to the influence

of Wilfried and Rosemyne
joining the playroom,

but also to the educational
materials that Rosemyne created.

I intend to use this opportunity to
strengthen Ehrenfest's influence.

It all started with a single
remark from Brigitte.

I'll...

- I won again!

- I'm sure that karuta and picture
books will be all the craze

- Yeah...

- Amazing...

- I can still keep going!

by the time you attend the
Royal Academy, Lady Rosemyne.

Given how effective they are,

I think selling them to other duchies
at a higher price may be a good idea.

We can strengthen Ehrenfest's
standing if we start a new trend.

Our standing?

Yes.

Currently, Ehrenfest ranks
somewhere in the middle

among the duchies of Yurgenschmidt...

However, our standing
is due to other duchies

falling from power and losing their
influence after the political upheaval,

so Ehrenfest itself doesn't
possess much influence.

First, we must raise our ranking.

To do that, we need to improve
our academic performance.

That is why our study materials are
to be kept hidden from other duchies.

Even within the Royal Academy,

taking them to other duchies
will be strictly prohibited.

I ask for everyone's cooperation in
increasing Ehrenfest's influence.

After the conclusion of the banquet
celebrating the arrival of spring,

the giebes all returned
to their ruling provinces,

bringing the winter social
season to a close.

And Dorvan will be last.

That will be order for the Spring Prayer.

I understand.

Now, regarding Hasse's punishment...

We had a discussion about this matter

a short while ago, with my adoptive
father in attendance...

Revoking the Spring Prayer?

Yes.

The Spring Prayer is a ceremony
to fill the land with mana

and pray for a bountiful harvest.

Without the Spring Prayer,
their crop yields will drop.

Such a thing is a matter of life and
death for the farmers, after all...

Doing it just once wouldn't
be much hardship.

If the leader of a town fails, the entire
community must bear responsibility.

Attacking the monastery is a grave crime.

Not sending priests for the Spring Prayer

for merely one year is simply
too light of a punishment.

A punishment befitting the crime, huh?

Father accepted the punishment
I proposed after that, correct?

Yes.

While I understand that was
the optimal solution for you,

since you wanted to save as many
of the commoners as possible,

it would set too poor of an example.

Huh?

We will dispose of the
mayor as a traitor.

Yes...

I checked the situation
in Hasse the other day.

How was it?

It seems they had a meeting
about it over the winter,

and the mayor's faction has
been completely isolated.

I made sure to circulate rumors
that someone had to take the blame,

so the mayor must be keeping
a low profile these days.

What? Aren't you happy?

We were able to turn the
tide in your favor.

The disposal of the mayor
has been confirmed.

That is only to be expected.

Everyone reacts the same way...

Is that all?

No, there's one more thing.

You should go to Hasse and announce
the punishment in person.

Go and proclaim that the penalty has been
reduced thanks to the mercy of the saint.

I have to proclaim myself
as a merciful saint...

We simply must go and see, Mark.

Yes, Master.

Ugh, I'm so dreading this.

Oh!

It seems the measurements are finished.

I have decided to place the order.

I see. I'm glad you liked it.

To think you even considered my outfit
for the Star-Binding Ceremony...

I only wish for you to wear something
that makes you the most beautiful,

in hopes that you find a wonderful
gentleman as your future partner.

I am truly delighted.

Then, Corinna. It is an unusual outfit,

so I imagine it will be quite a challenge,
but I have faith in your skills.

I'm counting on you.

I will do my best to
meet your expectations.

Lady Rosemyne, do you need a
new hair ornament for spring?

I have prepared one for you to
wear during the Spring Prayer.

Of course!

I shall take it...

It's finished.

It suits you beautifully.

Thank you, Tuuli.

The visitation time is coming to an end.

Lady Rosemyne, what would you like
to do regarding the escort to Hasse?

Nora and the others will be coming
along and returning to Hasse.

I would like to ask for your help
again to ensure their safety.

Lutz, please hand this to the
commander of the East Gate.

Duly received.

And then, the day to
head to Hasse arrived.

We will depart soon.

Let us see how many people have
been moved by your plans.

Yes!

They're here!

High Bishop. High Priest.
Welcome to Hasse.

I offer my heartfelt gratitude to the
Goddess of Water Fruhtrane

for bringing you here.

From this point on, I am a saint...

People of Hasse, I am Rosemyne.

I have pled with my father.

I asked him not to destroy Hasse.

However, attacking the monastery

is an act of treason against
the archducal family.

No matter how much I plead,
that fact remains unchanged.

However, there are likely many among you

that have been threatened or
deceived by the town mayor.

That is why I asked my father to
reconsider the nature of the punishment.

Hasse's punishment...

The Spring Prayer will
be revoked this year,

and your taxes will be increased
for the next ten years.

This is by no means a light punishment.

Please forgive me for failing to do more.

It's enough that the entire town
isn't wiped off of the map.

Thank you very much, High Bishop!

Hand over the traitors.
They shall be dealt with.

Ascendance of a Bookworm:
Adopted Daughter of an Archduke

Ascendance of a Bookworm:
Adopted Daughter of an Archduke

I didn't know...

Gentle High Bishop, who saved
Hasse from such a dire plight,

everything I did was for the
sake of protecting this town.

To be accused of such a crime...

Please have some mercy on my ignorance!

Mayor...

High Bishop, please show mercy...

This makes it harder to dispose of him.

The mayor is in a position that
must regularly deal with nobles,

so there is no way you didn't know.

The only thing you didn't know was
the fact that the former high bishop,

who had been covering up your
crimes, had already died.

You knew the meaning of such an act,

yet still incited the townspeople
to attack the monastery.

This time, we will not
only dispose of the mayor,

but the very seeds of such rebellion.

Huh?! That wasn't what we decided on!

Getilgt.

This is the Gate of Judgment.

All of you must pass through it.

What?

What's this about?

Please wait!

There is no need for such a screening.

The town mayor alone
should bear the blame...

No! Please allow us to walk through!

If we don't eliminate all
the dangerous individuals,

Hasse will find itself in a dire
situation like this again.

We cannot have the lord cast a
suspicious eye on us any further!

Richt...

Then, Richt, prove yourself right here.

The town mayor is next.

Let go of me, all of you!

Go through.

- As you can see,

- Let go of me!

- anyone harboring malice or the intent
to harm will be repelled by this gate.

This gate will determine those who
deserve mercy from the Saint of Ehrenfest!

If you do not wish to be dealt with
as a traitor, you must pass through!

The ones repelled by the
gate were the town mayor,

the townspeople who had participated
in the attack on the monastery,

and the town mayor's wife.

Those repelled by the gate
harbor ill will against us.

We shall dispose of them here.

Completely acceptable.

I am grateful for the chance you've given
us to prove our innocence, High Priest.

Dispose of them...

Rosemyne, watch closely.

Yes...

Eustachius.

Understood, Lord Ferdinand.

High Priest, what is that box for?

It contains Hasse's registration tokens.

Apparently, registration tokens
are the medals commoners use

to register as subjects of the duchy
during their baptism ceremony.

We didn't know how many
would be disposed of,

so we brought Hasse's entire token box.

However, this is something that normally
shouldn't be taken out of the castle.

Eckhard, please ensure that
no one is able to get close.

Begin.

Understood.

Messer.

S-Save me!

I'll need your blood seal.

S-Stop!

Done...

High Priest, what is Eustachius doing?

He is searching for their
registration tokens.

Just watch and you'll soon find out.

It's your fault...

It's all your fault!

Watch closely.

As a part of the Archduke's family,

I must stand witness
to this until the end.

Rucken.

Auswahl.

Lord Ferdinand, here are their tokens.

Good work.

Rosemyne, step back to where
Eustachius is standing.

Yes.

O God of Darkness, the supreme one
that presides over the endless skies.

The great Father that
has created this world.

In the name of the God of Darkness...

So, this is...

What exactly is going on?

This is the execution of those who
rebelled against the Archduke, princess.

I knew the execution spell existed,

but I've never been able
to witness it myself.

This is just what I've
been wanting to see!

Execution spell...

The spell is only taught
to succession candidates.

You will also learn this spell one day.

It's just like that time...

If I remember correctly,

that was a barrier of the God
of Darkness that absorbed mana...

This is probably another form of magic
related to the God of Darkness.

Inflict upon them the punishment deserved

and seal off the stairway to the
distant skies in which you reside.

Eckhard, release their bindings.

Yes!

Th-They're gone!

Run!

This is all your fault!

Do not worry. This is not a problem.

Legs...

My legs!

My body is turning to stone!

N-No!

I don't want to die!

Please save me! I was wrong!

Magnificent!

Do you not agree, Princess?!

Rosemyne.

Take this.

My role as a saint...

People of Hasse!

Please endure for one year.

Whether or not the Spring Prayer
will return next year...

will depend on the conduct
of the people of Hasse.

If it's just one year...

Let's find a way.

Please show me your heartfelt
atonement through your actions!

I feel sick...

Rosemyne looks pale.

See to it that everything is
prepared so that she may rest.

Yes.

Dad...

Rosemyne.

Please take this if you'd like...

You look terribly cold.

Are you cold?

Yes, very much so...

Gunther, thank you kindly.

It smells like Dad...

That day, I fell asleep wrapped
head-to-toe in my father's cloak.

I didn't have any bad dreams.

Translation Angela Tamae Liu

Timing Edgar Cruz

Editing Tara Campbell

QC Alicia Ashby

FQC Michelle Tymon

Next Episode
Night of Fruhtrane

Hand it over.

No.

I'm just going to clean it!

Clean it?

Waschen.

That's amazing! It's clean now!

Please clean me up, too!

Waschen.

Illustration by: Yuki Kana