Preamble - About Him

EB_v01_011

 

Evaluating something based on bundling what others talk about it is not a very wise action.

Someone said so, it's that kind of thing. Certain someone said, yeah, that's how it is. Someone else said so, so that's it. Certain someone elsewhere said so, I thought it's like that, I knew it——no matter how many voices gather, they won't approach the essence of the subject, in other words, even the evaluation of numerous people doesn't mean they have seen through the truth. It doesn't seem like it had come from analysis and criticism. That's because it's difficult to say it's objective, just an aggregation of subjectivity.

However, it's also the truth that some things in the world can only be observed subjectively.

The observers' subjective views and words are spun together, compiled, then organized and subjectively understood by the readers. It's not a very wise action, but humans being just humans do not possess God's eye, so if they wish to relay something, they can only do it this way. The only one possessing truly objective point of view is God alone.

That's why, about this time's subject "Him"—— Imina Haimatie, I think of trying to speak of him in this manner.

Of course, if I look impartially at him, his standpoint is that of a human so it's clear that it'll be far from being an unbiased perspective. On the other hand, it's not like I know everything about him, there is much missing information. But still, rather than being satisfied with talk of those spreading rumours and gossip, I'm proud of being able to properly describe his appearance.

With that said, rather than speaking of my personal impressions, using what I have heard so far, it would be better to raise the evaluation of him in the surroundings. The term "better" in this case, means it's "better" for me, it's more convenient. It would be easier to speak this way.

Now then. These days, in the Royal Capital one can hear voices calling him a hero.

He had achieved numerous feats of valour in the Second Elven War as part of the "Golden Wolf Knights" attacking force. Able to slay elven generals in battle, all alone, he became the poster brave knight of the Empire.

On the other hand, there are people who mock him for being overestimated.

Although he decapitated the enemy general, it was not clear whether it happened thanks to his own abilities and in the first place, it was not a military exploit sufficient to affect the entire war. In the end, he was just a single commoner soldier her highness Princess Milifica is pleased with.

As a matter of fact, as far as their words go, I don't think either off them are correct.

He has succeeded in defeating many enemies. He subjugated a number of demons and magical beasts surpassing everyone else. The earlier mentioned elves——the fairy tribe that has power to devastate troops of hundred humans by themselves——he achieved the feat of defeating them in fight one-on-one.

But on the other hand, he always is in the middle of a losing battle.

While it is known well enough, he himself has never boasted of his military exploits. No, he didn't even recognize the credit for them.

While I do realized it is rude and can be misunderstood, despite being commoners——our "Golden Wolf Knights" leader, her highness Milifica Yusala Astozellen is concerned with him, who had descended from the commoners.

However, the not-so exaggerated evaluation of a hero, is in the end just something that's spread in the Imperial Capital far from the battlefield, just something people spoken about by those know him only from the rumours. Those who have seen him in the battlefield embrace different kind of feelings.

That is, dread.

In fact, even among Golden Wolf Knights, most of the soldiers are afraid of him. Despite being acquainted with him I'm incredibly fearful of him. Actually it makes me, who has received the great title of the Golden Wolf Knights support troops captain, feel like a timid little girl.

His way of valiantly fighting the approaching crisis is cruel and cold. While certainly he is incredibly strong, but despite that it's incredibly risky, in the middle of fight he seems to enjoy himself while also it feels tragic——he is fraught with contradictions, and that is why——because he is fraught with contradictions, that he fills people with dread. The fact that some of the troop members have likened him to a madman is also a fact. That he is a berserker with a broken heart.

But, I think that too, is merely their one-sided impression.

The soldiers judge him only by how he appears on the battlefield. Speaking in more detail, it is not well known. With what feelings he faces war, with what feelings he wields the sword and, with what feelings he fights elves, that is.

Therefore, those who know about these to a certain extent——the ones who are closer to him, hold different feelings towards him.

For example, respect.

For example, esteem.

For example, admiration.

For example, gratitude.

For example, pity.

For example, affection.

And these men and women, think of him like that.

They said: "His sword is incredibly sharp. As a swordsman I can't lose to him."

They said: "That person is really amazing. One day, I want to fight together with him side by side."

They said: "He's doing really well actually. Thanks to him we somehow survive."

They said: "Our lives were saved by him. That's why one day, we'll use our lives for his sake."

They said: "It should be more happy. Sometimes it's too hard to watch."

They said: "He's the core of the knights troop. There's no more words required to evaluate him."

I too, feel the same as these people.

 

Calling him a hero is certainly right.

Honestly, I can't deny he can be called a berserker with a broken heart.

But to us, he——is a warrior worthy of respect, owner of astounding swordsmanship, an invaluable companion, the person who had saved our lives, person who lives a sad life of sharpening himself for combat——he, who is surrounded by numerous independent evaluations can be described in very simple words.

Namely, an important friend.

All of us, love Imina Haimatie.

 

Separator

 

With that said——.

Despite the complete evaluation of the friend of ours, it still feels as if there was smoke wrapping around him.

To those who are reading this note——I don't know whether it's someone from tomorrow or the posterity——it's doubtful whether you shall understand him.

That is why, here, I want to quote a certain someone's words.

The girl who is the captain of our Golden Wolf Knights' transportation corps, the childhood friend of Imina Haimatie——Ellis Iivi's evaluation of him.

She has spent her childhood with him, grew up together with him, overcame the tragedy of Salaido village with him, joined the war with him, and is the woman that rushes through the battlefield by his side. In other words, she was the one who was the closest and spent the longest time with him, someone who's connected to him with difficult ties.

Miss Ellis' words are the most subjective out of all of ours.

However, in fact——it is her words that might be the closest to the truth, is what I think. Rather than bundle of subjective opinions, a single subjective opinion exceeds them. While ironic, it might be the way of the world.

 

She said.

Imina hasn't changed since long ago.

He's gentle, pure, has a cute smile——and is my beloved person.

 

Written down by Golden Wolf Knights Support Troop's Captain, Laimi Selea-Shutimeryl.

Excerpt from the heavy memoir lexicon called "Journal and Testament".

38 thoughts on “Preamble - About Him

  1. Anon

    Thanks for translating!

    Noted some parts which sounds weird:

    "I don't think either off them are correct." - either of them

    "The earlier mentioned elves——that fairy tribe that.." - the fairy tribe

    Reply
  2. Mors

    Honestly, I can't be deny he can be called a berserker with a broken heart. --> I can't deny that / It can't be denied that (preferably the former)

    Miss Ellis words are the most subjective out of all of ours. -> Ellis'

    Imina didn't change since long ago. --> Hasn't changed

    He's gentle, pure, has cute smile --> Has a cute smile

    Reply
  3. Gnarled

    I just did a rereading and found something.

    "Written down by Golden Wolf Knights Support Troop's Captain, Raimi Selea-Shutimeryl.
    Excerpt from the heavy memoir lexicon called "Journal and Testament"."

    I'm not a native English speaker and just learned 'memoir' and 'lexicon' to my vocabulary.
    I probably just skip it before, but I can't stop thinking about it now. Why did they make a memoir for him? I need an ENLIGHTMENT.

    Reply
      1. Gnarled

        Thank goodness. Only if they are his memoirs, this series would leave pretty bad wound on my heart.

        Reply
        1. krytyk Post author

          I'm not sure what you mean by that. Memoir is something you leave behind to be remembered or to remember someone, but it doesn't mean the person is dead already. I assume you thought it implies he died?

          Reply
          1. Gnarled

            Yeah, it's my mistake. I used English-Indonesian dictionary at first. It's just happen that the wording (though it's not biased and true) suggest me that way. After I checked it again on my oxford dictionary, it was just my misunderstanding. Thanks

  4. Sicarius236

    I don't know if this is just me... but this kind of reminds me of Saber? "Berserker with a broken heart"... Saber lost her humanity when she took the sword from the stone and she is certainly undefeatable on the battlefield in her search to build the "ideal" kingdom; it sounds like the other "Golden Wolf Knight" troop members loved Imina yet kept him at an arm's distance... Saber's court was known to be fair and just yet distant and somehow inhumane, which reflected in her personal relationships. (According to the Type-Moon Wiki... I have no clue if anything they wrote on there is actually part of the lore or somebody just made it up and posted it.)

    Reply
  5. Jaxx

    Elves. Called it.

    I sense a great wave of darkness slowly coming forth, after having read this, the summary, and the chapter titles (Ellis' Blood, seriously?). Hopefully it won't be too dark, overdoses of darkness are very likely to scare me off.

    Reply
  6. NP-3228

    When's the last time I read a preamble lol! Don't see that kind of stuff in todays writting! That was quite a unique way of starting the series off, im fired up~

    Reply
  7. Relix

    Impressive!
    It's really interesting how the Author managed to tell us about what kind of person Imina is from 2 different perspectives
    A Madman in Battlefield yet A Gentleman in his surrounding
    From the looks of it, it gives me a vibe it will turn into a serious development kind of story
    Just like what I expected, it have AMA feeling on it
    Anyway, thx for the hard work Kyrytk. Looking forward to the continuations

    Reply
  8. happinezz001

    interesting the vibe is kinda like death note and the illustration on top is seriously creepy........ I like it !

    Reply
      1. Desuworks

        The illustration reminds of death note. And about a hundred other stories. What this writing style reminds me of the most is hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. I bet it will make much more sense with a more cohesive plot though. Sounds fun. Guessing the hero's sister is an elf?

        Reply
        1. Trainee35

          No, it seems like the Hero is with the elven sister and the human sister is with the elven brother.

          Reply
      2. happinezz001

        i don't actually know why but when i was reading it kinda reminded me of death note i think or was it some other anime that i watched anyways it's something similar

        Reply
  9. Bareus

    So that's how Elvenblood begins. It really sounds like one of Kazuma Kamachi's novels.
    =============================
    ..., it's just something of people spoken about by those know him only from the rumours.
    ..., it's just something of people spoken about by those who know him only from the rumours.
    ..., it's just something of people spoke about by those who know him only from the rumours.
    -> I'm not sure in first version if it's correct to write "... something of people spoken about by ...", so I made the second version

    ..., person who had saved our lives, person who lives a sad life of sharpening himself for combat ...
    ..., a person who had saved our lives, a person who lives a sad life of sharpening himself for combat ...

    That is why, here, I want to quote certain someone's words.
    That is why, here, I want to quote a certain someone's words.

    Reply
    1. The one typing this

      Thanks for translating this, the preamble is promising :D Also, on the first paragraph this sounded a little odd, but it's ultimately your opinion to decide which sounds better.
      Certain someone said, yeah, that kind of thing.
      A certain someone said yeah, that kind of thing.

      Reply
      1. The one typing this

        Oh sorry, I just noticed I mixed it up with the first statement, I meant this
        Certain someone said, yeah, that's how it is.
        A certain someone said yeah, that's how it is.

        Reply
        1. I am a pickle

          Observers subjective views and words are spun together, compiled, then organized and subjectively understood by the readers.
          Observers' subjective views and words are spun together, compiled, then organized and subjectively understood by the readers.

          Reply
          1. The one typing this

            Actually it makes me, who has received the great title of the Golden Wolf Knights support troops captain, feel like a timid little girl.
            Actually it makes me, who has received the great title of the Golden Wolf Knights support troop's captain, feel like a timid little girl.

            They said: "It should be more happy. Sometimes it's too hard to watch."
            They said: "He should be happier. Sometimes it's too hard to watch."

            Rather than bundle of subjective opinions, a single subjective opinion exceeds them.
            Rather than a bundle of subjective opinions, a single subjective opinion exceeds them.

            Honestly, I can't be deny he can be called a berserker with a broken heart.
            Honestly, I can't deny that he could be called a berserker with a broken heart.

            Ellis-san words are the most subjective out of all of ours.
            Ellis-san's words are the most subjective out of all of ours.

          2. The one typing this

            They said: "He should be happier. Sometimes it's too hard to watch."
            They said: "He should be happier. Sometimes he's too hard to watch."
            They said: "He should be happier. Sometimes it's too hard to watch him."
            Edit on my edit, not sure which sounds better out of these three. Also, the second choice sounds kind of wrong XD

          3. krytyk Post author

            It's done on purpose, original refers to him as "it" an inaminate object, for some reason.

          4. The one typing this

            Oh, well now that I read it again, that thought was from someone who holds pity towards him, so I guess that pronoun makes sense.

  10. rubah

    My fav kind of stories, borderline confusing and sophisticated. Though is this like spoiling the ending to wet the appetite of readers? Or is it a slice of history and the beginning of a new legend kinda thing...? Looking forward to the next release, thanks krytyk.

    Reply
  11. Cres

    This one seems interesting, looking forward to more.

    Also, how do you prefer folks reporting typos? Just in the comments?

    Reply
    1. krytyk Post author

      Yeah, I prefer to know what's changing. Also, it allows me to rephrase stuff if I deem it necessary.

      Reply
      1. Cres

        Right, and thanks (should have said earlier)

        "Able to slay elven generals in battle, all alone, he became the postage brave knight of the Empire." - postage, poster?

        "He subjugated a number of demons and magical beasts surpassing everyone else. earlier mentioned elves——" missing capital for earlier

        "Honestly, I can't be denied he can be called a berserker with a broken heart." I can't deny, or It can't be denied that

        Reply
  12. Relix

    Is it only me that the image doesn't show up?
    The image crash
    I'm using mobile version btw

    Reply
  13. omnigil

    Thx for the translation krytyk. The translation is a bit confusing, I had to read it twice in order to fully understand what it is saying. Is this the writing style of the author?

    Reply
    1. krytyk Post author

      Yes, it's very confusing... or maybe, rather than confusing - it's very sophisticated.

      Reply

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