ࡱ> |   !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{}~Root Entry F~)wWordDocument CompObj^king at Ruby> [Right?]Alice: ......Oh. Alice: (Alice, you idiot... What was I hoping for? That father had finally came back?)Alice: (But father doesn't...)Hiiro: Ah...... Hiiro: Say! Umm... Alice: ? Hiiro: Do you come here often?Alice: ...... Why do you ask?Hiiro: Did you know this place has a secret passage? [I'll show you!]Alice: It was buried by last year's heavy rain.p.10Hiiro: There's a shortcut to the rooftop......Alice: It's the stairway at the end of the right hallway, right?[Silence]Alice: (He's weird......)Ruby: [Hiiro, you're lame...]Hiiro: [Umm....] Alice: I don't know you are, but I know a lot about this place. Probably more than you do! I'm going home. Goodbye.Hiiro (Ruby?) : [I've got a bad feeling...]Hiiro: Watch out!!Alice: Kya!!Hiiro: (Can I make it...?!)p.11Ruby: Hiiro~~, are you all right?![Bang] {The boulder shatters.}Shadow: [Chuckle][Fsh] {The laughing figure disappears.}p.12Aunt: Alice... Alice: [Mm...]Alice! Alice! We are so glad...Alice: I...... Uncle: Oh no, please rest a little longer.Aunt: For you to have went so far... You went to the Ruins again, didn't you?Alice: It's not the "Ruins!" It's "Machine Mountain!"Aunt: They are the same things, aren't they? What do you think would have happened to you if Hiiro-san hadn't helped you?Hiiro: [Eh?]p.13Alice: Wait a minute! What are YOU doing here?Ruby: [You ingrate!]Uncle: Look here, Alice! How can you say that?!Alice: But, uncle...!Uncle: Alice, this person... While he was carrying your unconscious body, he walked through the streets of Meribia, asking "Where is this girl's house?" until finally he reached our house. Alice: That's embarrassing! [I'll be the laughing stock of the neighborhood!!]Uncle: Alice!! You _have_ thanked him, haven't you?!p.14Hiiro: What I did was no big deal. So, you don't have to......Alice: ......I am sorry for saying such a rude thing. Thank you for saving me.Alice: No way! Absolutely not! Here's the soap! Bath towel! Hiiro: [Oops]Alice: Brush! Put your dirty clothes here!Alice: I won't take no for an answer. ...... Get in!! the bathtub!![Splash]p.15Alice: Really! I can't believe this!Hiiro: Alice.Alice: [Whew! What a stink! It's all caked with mud!][Scrub scrub]Hiiro: You don't have to wash my clothes. Hiiro: I'll do that myself......Alice: [None of it is coming off!] Since I have the time I'll do it!Alice: (Ah... So his clothes are blue...)Ruby: Look, Hiiro. Look. Here's some soap that's already being used. But Alice gave us a new bar of soap. [Lather lather] {Ruby is messing with the soap.}Hiiro: Yep.p.16Hiiro: Seconds, please.Uncle: [You're small, but you certainly have a large appetite, huh?]Alice: (Couldn't you be a bit more restrained......?)Aunt: I am glad that you like the food! Eat as much as you like, all right?Hiiro: It's been so long since I had such a good meal. I travel around a lot, so......Aunt: Travel?Hiiro: Yes. Visiting historic ruins here and there is my hobby... Ah!! Hiiro: Ma'am, this!! These pickles are especially good. They're delicious!!Aunt: Oh?Aunt: Alice made those. Right, Alice?Alice: Umm... Y-Yes......Hiiro: REALLY?!p.17Hiiro: That's amazing, Alice! Isn't it hard to make pickles this good?Alice: [Blush] [F-Flattery gets you nowhere!]Hiiro: I bet that your mother was great at cooking.Hiiro: That's why you're...... What's wrong?Uncle: ......Her mother died young.....p.18Uncle: Her father......Alice: My father...!![Bang] {Alice smacks her hands against the dinner table.}Alice: He left five years ago!! Alice: And...... he won't come back again. I'm sure he won't.Aunt:: Alice...... It's time for bed. You are tired from all that happened todܥe# 3I,l,l  @(Ta[;@Times New Roman Symbol ArialGaramondLUNAR: Younenki no Owari (Lunar: Childhood's End)By: Funato AkariBased on the Original Work by: Shigema KeiTranslation by: Seungtaek ChoiISBN#4-04-712105-3() indicates thoughts[] indicates handwritten text** indicates flashbacks{} inidcates editor's notes {This story first appeared in "Comic Dragon" in 1994 -- 10 years as of this writing in 2004. It's been over 10 {years since Lunar began, about 10 years since it became a serious franchise, and about 10 years since our author, {Funato Akari, started drawing professionally. And this translation has been available for the majority of those 10 {years.Inside CoverLucia Picture: Lucia doesn't show up...?Funato AkariBorn March 21st in Nagoya Prefecture. Made her debut in "Dengeki Megadrive" in '93. Likes authors M. Ende and Heinlein, and the game "Bazoo!". "The holes in the story are pretty obvious, but if interest in a 19-year-old Hiiro 3 years after the game story helps you accept them, I'm glad."Ramus Picture: RamusShigema KeiWorks on a variety of projects, such as the "Silent Moebius" novels and the "Lunar" games. "It has to be something like this: an adventurous main character who helps a girl who's in trouble and saves the world from danger while he's at it. Of course, Hiiro-kun meets the requirements to a tee! Enjoy his adventure!"Table of ContentsChapter 1 Wings into Summer - 3Chapter 2 The Woman's Call - 33Chapter 3 Veteran Heroes - 57Chapter 4 Darkness Woven by Shadow - 81Chapter 5 Veteran Heroes 2 - 105Chapter 6 Rondo of Swords - 129Chapter 7 Childhood's End -153p.3Alice: It is said that the Magic Emperor, the king of the Mazoku {formerly demons} who opposed the goddess, lived a long ago in the ruins known as Machine Mountain on the outskirts of the city of Meribia. The story of the Magic Emperor ends with his defeat by five heroes. Alice: It is a fairy tale - no one knows whether or not it really happened. But the highest place on that Machine Mountain... That place is my special place. [Clank] {Alice sets her bicylce on the ground.}Aunt: Alice! p.4Aunt: Where are you going? Are you going to come back by dinner? [whip] {Alice aburptly turns away from her aunt.}Aunt: Alice![Rrring rring] {Alice's bike bell.}p.5Chapter 1: Wings into Summer {This title may be a nod to Robert Heinlein's "Door into Summer". 'Natsu e no Tsubasa' is very similar in structure to the Japanese title of "Door into Summer", "Natsu e no Tobira". Funato mentions Heinlein in }p.6Alice: (It's a dragon.) Alice: (Where could it be going?) [Wow...] Alice: (A person...?)Alice: Wait! Hey! Please waaait!Alice: (It landed at Machine Mountain...)Alice: (You have to make certain of it, Alice.)Alice: (Who was riding on the back of that dragon?) p.7Alice: (Perhaps that was... It could be...)Voice #1: [Hiiro~~!]Voice #2: [Wa!!]Alice: (Fath......) [CRASH] {A variety of rubble and a young man fall in a heap in front of Alice.}[Loom] {A hand emerges from the rubble, terrifying (maybe horrifying?) Alice.}Alice: Kyaaaa![Funacho: He's not balding!]Hiiro: Eh... Um... [Ow!] I-I'm sorry for frightening you......p.8[puff] [puff] {Hiiro dusts clouds of dirt off of his clothes.}Hiiro: My name is Hiiro.Alice: (This...... This person...)Hiiro: I am really sorry, miss. Are you hurt......?Alice: [Kya!] I'm not hurt!Ruby: Hiiro~~!Alice: (He's so terribly dirty!)Hiiro: Hey, Ruby! [Heh heh]Ruby: [Really! You are so clumsy!]Alice: [It's too gross!]Alice: [Sidle sidle] Um...... Alice: Didn't you see a dragon? There was a person riding on its back.Hiiro: [Startle!] Umm... We didn't see anything....p.9Alice: But it landed close to Machine Mountain!Hiiro: We climbed to the top, but we didn't see anyone... Hiiro: Alice... Hiiro: I'm sorry. I woke you up, didn't I?Alice: No, not at all. Alice: ......That song was beautiful.Hiiro: ......There's a person who really loves this song......p.21Hiiro: She is really important to me.Hiiro: Now she is so far away that I can't see her...... But I believe that someday I'll be able to see her again. She's waiting for me, you see!Alice: I...... If it was me...... Alice: [Father. Father...]p.22Alice: *Father, where are you going? Are you going to come back soon?*Alice: *Say, Father... Why won't you saying anything......?*Alice: If it was me...... I wouldn't wait.Alice: *Father...* Alice: I...... I don't believe.p.23Alice: If you believe, you'll be betrayed.Alice: That's why...... That's why I...!!p.24Hiiro: Don't be like that...Hiiro: Don't make yourself sad like that.[Th-thump] [Grin] Hiiro: If you don't believe, then nothing can happen, Alice.p.25Hiiro: So try to believe. If you do, then surely... Your father will...Female Voice: (It's a lie.)Alice: It's a lie!Hiiro: Alice?!Alice: Even I can tell that's just a pretty lie for a little girl!p.26Alice: Don't make fun of me because I'm younger than you!!Hiiro: Alice!!Hiiro: You shouldn't go to that Machine Mountain anymore...!! Understand?!Alice: [...!]Alice: ......Let go of me...!!p.27Ruby: Um...... Ruby: Hiiro? [Mumble]Hiiro: I am sorry. You were sleeping, weren't you? Ruby?Ruby: I hear the sound of a bicycle.Hiiro: Alice!![Clatter clatter...] [Rrring rring] {Alice takes her bike and rides off.}Hiiro: Don't go, Alice! Not when it's this late at night......p.28Ruby: Hiiro?Hiiro: Ruby, we have to bring Alice back right away. If something happens it will be too late.Hiiro: Let's go, Ruby!! I think I know where she may be going!p.29Hiiro: Alice's bicycle![Crackle] {Electriciy flashes near Hiiro's feet.}Hiiro: ?!Ruby: Hiiro~~....... Ruby: What is this? This place is totally different from the daytime. This place gives me the creeps.Hiiro: This is......Alice: [Kyaaaaaa!]Hiiro: Alice?!Ruby: It's this way, Hiiro!p.30Ruby: [Shiver] I really hate this, Hiiro! Please tell me what's going on here!Hiiro: Ruby, do you remember what happened during the daytime? Hiiro: That time... the falling rock shattered before hitting the floor.Ruby: [O-h...] What? Then, you weren't the one who did it?Hiiro: [Hehehe... The truth is...]Ruby: ......Hiiro.p.31Ruby: Hiiro~~, that strange sound...Hiiro: What?!Ruby: Sound of steel...... I don't like this. I really don't like this, Hiiro.Hiiro: There is something here. Hiiro: Right now, this Machine Mountain is calling to us...... Something that wants to awaken the terror lurking in our hearts is......p.32[Thud] {Hiiro whips around, and finds himself face to face with someone unexpected.}Ruby: Hiiro......Hiiro: This can't be real...... This can't be happening!p.33Chapter 2: The Woman's Callp.34Hiiro: (The "Magic Emperor" should have been defeated by the Five Heroes. That is what's left in both the legends and the history books.)[Slash] {The man in black armor swings his sword...}Hiiro: (Then who is now standing before my eyes?)Hiiro: [Whew...][Shk...] {...and pulls free from the metal paneling that it easily sliced through right above Hiiro's head.}Hiiro: (He's strong!)Hiiro: (Could someone have dug up the Emperor's armor and is now wearing it? No, if that's the case..)Hiiro: (How can it explain this miasma that surrounds him?!)p.35[Thud] {The force of the armored figure's attack knocks Hiiro against the wall.}Hiiro: !!Female Voice: Hiiro...Female Voice: Goodbye.p.36Hiiro: Don't! I...!!Female Voice: Goodbye...Hiiro: I...!! (I didn't think that I was thinking of this......)Ruby: Hiiro~~!!p.37Hiiro: (What was that...?!)Ruby: Let's run, Hiiro! Finding Alice is our first priority now, right?[Suu] {Ruby inhales loudly...}[Roar] {And releases a huge burst of flame.}[Bolt] {Hiiro and Ruby run into a hallway and split up.}p.38Woman: What's wrong? What are you afraid of, Alice?Alice: (This person...)Alice: How do...... you know my name...?!Woman: Yes, I know it.Alice: (She's not human...)Woman: I know all about you.......p.39[Bolt] {Alice move to escape.}Woman: Alice![Grab]Woman: My name is Zenobia.[Th-thump]Zenobia: (Revenge... Revenge!)p.40Zenobia: (Revenge!!)Alice: Sto-----p!!!Zenobia: Oh...... Ohh......p.41Zenobia: ............ ......Incredible!![Bang!] [Voom] {Zenobia's pushes open a door. Her staff materializes.}Ruby: [Kyaaa! Kyaa!]Zenobia: Behold, Alice!p.42-43[Woosh] [Vwon] {The energy bolt hits the city}[Ro----ar]Alice: The city of Meribia is......!!Zenobia: [Ah-hahaha!]p.44Uncle: *My darling Alice!*Aunt: *Won't you give me a smile...?*Alice: [Slap] How could you do that?!! Zenobia: This is what you wished for, on that day five years ago! On the top of this very Machine Mountain!!Alice: What......? What are you saying?!p.45Alice: I don't know anything about that...!!Zenobia: [Chuckle] Don't you think this time it's my turn to have a wish fulfilled...? Zenobia: Therefore... Come Alice, give me your power...... Zenobia: Give it...... to me......Alice: ......no......Alice: No...... No----! Hiiro-san, Hiiro-saaan!!p.46Hiiro: Here!!! [Smack] [Silence] {Hiiro lands between Zenobia and Alice... hard. He stands with a pained expression, trying to keep his legs under him.}Hiiro: [Urg...]Hiiro: You called? Hehe.Hiiro: Now...p.47Hiiro: I've come to take Alice back.Zenobia: Why you......!p.48Zenobia: Conceited humans... Again interfering with us. !!Zenobia: Ghalleon-sama!Hiiro: ("Ghalleon?" Impossible... Could it really be?)Hiiro: ......Run, Alice.Alice: What?p.49Hiiro: I am not sure that I can defeat them right now......[Smash] [Roar]p.50[Roar]Hiiro: I'll explain everything later! For now, let's get out of here!!Zenobia: Alice! It was your power that fired upon Meribia! What will you do when you do return?!Alice: (My......)p.51Zenobia: [A-hahahahahaha]Alice: (...power did...?)Hiiro: The city is......[Stagger...] [Clink] {Alice walks through the ruins of the city with a desperate look. Her foot strikes something.}p.52Alice: (My cup...)[Crumble...] {Bits of the ceramic cup fall away as Alice holds it.}Uncle: Alice.Alice: Uncle! Aunt! I am so glad! You are all right! I...!!Uncle: Here are your things......p.53Uncle: Take this and leave this city.Zenobia: *What will you do when you return?*Alice: Ah...... I-I......[Squeeze...]Hiiro: Alice?! [Bolt] {Alice runs away.}Uncle: It has to be like this... If we want her to be happy... It has to... p.54[Flap flap...]Ruby: [Fwew...] I wonder what happened to Alice and Hiiro....Ruby: Ah![Plod plod] {Below, Alice is walking slowly.} Ruby: Alice~~! Ruby: Say, where's Hiiro? Wasn't he with you? Meribia isn't in that direction. Where are you going? [Shove] {Alice pushes Ruby away.}Ruby: H-Hey!![Drip drip] {Tears fall from Alice's eyes.}p.55Hiiro: Alice--!![Flinch!] [Rub rub] {The sound of Hiiro's voice suprises Alice, and she wipes her tears away.}Hiiro: I'm glad that I caught up with you! Ruby was with you. That's good!Hiiro: Say, Alice... If you just say the word, we'll go with you.Alice: It's...it's dangerous to be with me......p.56Alice: That woman might come back again. Besides......Zenobia: *It was your power that fired upon Meribia.*Hiiro: It will definitely be more fun than going alone. Hiiro: Where do you want to go, Alice?p.57Chapter 3: Veteran Heroesp.58Hiiro: If we walk a little further, we will reach a small town. All right?Alice: I can't stand this! When Hiiro-san says a "little further," it's not really "little"! My legs won't move anymore. I want to rest!Hiiro: Alice...Ruby: [Hiiro~~, I'm hungry!]Alice: [I want to rest!]Ruby: [I want to eat fish! Fish!]Hiiro: (T...These two......)[Rattle rattle] [Rattle rattle]Alice: Ah! Wagons! I wonder if they'll give us a ride?Hiiro: [Okay, okay] Why don't you go ask? Ruby: [Mew mew]p.59[Dash---!] {Hiiro's eyes bug out at the sight of Alice running over to the caravan wagons.}Hiiro: [She doesn't seem tired at all...]Ruby [Fiiiiish...]Female Voice: Hiiro! It's you, isn't it, Hiiro?!Hiiro: ......Jean?Jean: {Later...} People who don't work won't be fed. Jean: Since I gave you a ride, please do something for me, all right? Alice: Yes, ma'am!p.60Jean: The market is that way. Do you know what to buy? Alice: Some (salad) greens, potatoes, and milk!Ruby: And fish!Jean: [Hahaha, how cute.] Jean: .......Ronfar will come along soon.Hiiro: Really? It's been a while, hasn't it?Jean: I promised him that I would meet him in this city and give him a ride to Vane.Hiiro: Oh......? Hiiro: Is that so? To Vane, huh......?Jean: ............[Drip drip]Jean: Uh-oh, it's raining. I wonder if those two will be all right...p.61[Shhhhhhhh] {The rain has become a downpour.}Alice: Oh no, what should we do......Ruby: This is your fault, Alice!Ruby: It's because you took so long picking the vegetables!!Alice: Ruby, you took just as long picking the fish!!Ruby: L-Let's hurry! Hiiro and Jean are waiting for us.Alice: Hey, you just changed the subject!!Ruby: [But... stale fish smell bad!]Alice: [Vegetables don't taste very good if they're not fresh, either!]Male Voice: Hey, little miss![Rattle]p.62Man: You'll catch a cold.Alice: [A s.. strange man...] ......eh?Ruby: Ah, Ronfar!!Alice: Ehh?Ronfar: Huh? It's you, little squirt? That means...... Hiiro is here too......?Ruby: Yup! He and Jean are waiting for us right now at the caravan.Alice: