Unmarked Chapter 3

Chapter 03: Magic Knight

The ginkgo trees planted at even intervals along both sides of the main road had finished changing from a coat of green to a coat of yellow over the course of several days. When one recalled how the sun hung high in the sky even at dusk, it made the rust-colored sky look even more lonely, and it made people feel colder than actual winter.
等间隔种在大道两侧的银杏树，经过数日后完成了从绿衣裳换为黄衣裳的过程。想起前段日子太阳在黄昏时依然高挂空中，令铁锈色的天空看起来显得更加寂寥，仿佛比真正的冬天更加让人感到一阵寒冷。

Winterprison closed the curtains, then looked back into the room and spoke.
亚柊雫拉上窗帘，向着房间里面说起话来。

“When I look from the sixth floor apartment to the ground, the people all seem so small, and it makes me think that those people aren’t actually people any more.”
“从公寓的六楼望向地面，人类显得好渺小，甚至会让人产生人类不再是人类的错觉呢。”

“Shizuku, you think that way too?”
“雫也是这么想的吗？”

“Coming from a Magical Girl, that doesn’t sound very good.”
“对魔法少女来说这可不太好啊。”

“Still, it does suit your style, Shizuku. Making things complicated like that.”
“不过很有雫的风格哦。像那样把事情复杂化。”

Habutae Nana smiled, and Shizuku smiled with her.
羽二重奈奈微微笑了笑，顺带连雫也笑了起来。

Her smile had been absent for a long time. Be it as Habutae Nana or the Magical Girl Sister Nana, she was always depressed or crying, without a single smile.
她的笑容真是好久不见了。作为羽二重奈奈的时候也是，成为魔法少女“修女娜娜”的时候也是，最近的她都是一副忧愁哭泣的表情，完全没笑过。

While the apartment was in Nana’s name, Shizuku constantly rented a room here as a tenant. She barely visited her own apartment once a week,
虽然公寓名义上是奈奈的，但是雫基本作为一名同居者不断出入这个房间。自己的房间都不知道有没有一周回一次。

In middle school and high school, Shizuku had been very popular. She had a beautiful face which had been praised as angelic and pixie-like, and even after transforming into the Magical Girl Winterprison, the impression her looks gave did not change. While there was no doubt that she was female, the air of androgyny and mystery she projected made her popular with 30% of the opposite sex and 70% of the same sex. She had ample experience with interpersonal relationships, with both men and women, but none of them had lasted for any length of time. Only her relationship with Nana had  persisted this long.
初中，高中的时候，雫很受欢迎。有一副从小开始被赞美为天使、妖精的端正容姿，就算变身成魔法少女“寒冬牢狱”之后，外貌给人的印象也基本没变。虽然毫无疑问是女性，但是伴随着身上中性而又神秘的氛围，以异性三成，同性七成的比例享有着人气。人际交往经验也很丰富，和男性以及女性都有交往过，但是都没能持续很长时间。唯独和奈奈之间的关系倒是一直保持了下来。

Shizuku and Nana had met in a university research seminar. They had gotten along well enough that they had even spent their holidays together, and during that time, Nana introduced Shizuku to the game she had been playing recently, Magical Girl Raising Project. After becoming a Magical Girl and discovering that Nana was also a Magical Girl, Shizuku felt that this was a sort of fate. However, that was probably not the reason why they had continued their relationship. Neither was she a girl who believed in the red string of fate. Shizuku had been in love with Nana before she had become a Magical Girl.
雫和奈奈是在大学的研究会上认识的。关系好到连假日都一起过的时候，奈奈向雫推荐了她最近在玩的名为“魔法少女育成计划”的游戏。成为魔法少女，发现奈奈也是魔法少女这一事实后，雫觉得这就是一种命运。但是，那应该不是她们维系着关系的理由。她也不是会感受到命运的红线而心动不已的少女。雫在成为魔法少女前就迷上奈奈了。

“So, iit’s because she has a cute smile.”
“果然是因为笑容很可爱吧。”

“Whose?”
“谁的？”

“No, just talking to myself.”
“不 ，自言自语而已。”

She leaned her waist against the sofa, lifted her legs, and rested her weight on the armrests of the sofa. It was unsightly and it did not look pleasant at all, like a monk taking an uncomfortable pose for self-training and so on. Nana had reproached her for this many times already, but to Shizuku, this was the only posture where she could relax. Only when she was absolutely certain she did not have to worry about being ambushed, when she could allow herself to enjoy herself and be at ease, did Shizuku take this posture.
把腰靠在沙发上，翘起腿，把身体的重量都放在沙发扶手上。不成体统，看起来一点都不开心，像是修行者进行苦练的姿势一样等等，如此被奈奈数落了很多次，但是对雫来说，只有这个姿势才能让她得到放松。只有在绝对不用警戒被他人袭击，能够让自己安心享受的地方，雫才会摆出这种姿势。

The bookshelves were lined with romance stories, manga and love poems, the wallpaper was a light pink, and if one looked closely, one would be able to see heart-shaped icons printed on it. On  a corkboard were several pictures of Sister Nana and Winterprison, as well as Habutae Nana and Asyuu Shizuku smiling and standing next to each other. Her eyes settled on one particular picture, and Shizuku stood up. One corner of the picture was curled up. She folded the curled portion in the opposite direction, made sure that it was flattened out, and then Shizuku sat back on the sofa.
书架上排列着恋爱小说，漫画，以恋爱为主题的诗集，墙纸是淡淡的桃色，仔细凝视的话会看到心形的标记。软木板上，贴着几张修女娜娜和寒冬牢狱，羽二重奈奈和亚柊雫微笑着站在一起的照片。目光停留在其中一张照片上，雫站了起来。照片的一角卷了起来。把卷起来的部分朝反方向折回去，确认已经弄平后，寒冬牢狱再次坐回沙发上。

“Being so meticulous is just like you, Shizuku.”
“这种一丝不苟的地方也很有雫的风格呢。”

“You could call it a neurosis.”
“也可以说是神经质。”

“So you were aware of it.”
“原来你有自知之明啊。”

Nana laughed again.
奈奈又笑了。

“Please don’t laugh at me while I’m cooking with gas.”
“在人家做饭的时候不要笑我啊。”

“Is it curry today?”
“今天是咖喱？”

“What a shame, you were so close.”
“好可惜，稍微有点不同呢。”

“A stew, then?”
“那么，是炖菜？”

“Correct, Angelica cream stew. It takes a bit more time to get rid of the bitter taste, so please wait a little longer.”
“答对了，是当归奶油炖菜。为了把涩味煮掉稍微花了点时间，麻烦再稍等片刻哦。”

In contrast to Nana, who had quickly and easily poured eggs into the pan,  there was a shadow over Shizuku’s face.
和轻快地把鸡蛋混进锅里的奈奈的表情形成对比，雫的表情上蒙上了一层阴霾。

--Angelica? Cream stew? Come to think of it, it’s not exactly in season, right...
——当归？奶油炖菜？再说好像不太合时宜吧……。

Nana had always been quite concerned about how she was overweight. Therefore, she had decided not to eat the things she wanted  to eat in the name of losing weight. “You don’t need to make yourself suffer by dieting like that, right? You look healthier when you’re rounder, Nana, but more importantly, you’re very cute,” Shizuku had once told her that with the utmost sincerity, and the result was that Nana had not spoken to her for the next three days. You slim down once you become a Magical Girl, isn’t that fine? Shizuku had thought, but she never said it, instead burying those words in her heart. Nana’s heart was like that of a young girl’s and Shizuku found it hard to understand even as a member of the same sex, but if she did not pretend that she did, Nana would not listen to her.
奈奈一直很在意自己的体重大于平均体重这件事。为此，以减肥为名目，不吃想吃的东西。“不用减肥减得自己那么痛苦也行吧。奈奈还是圆嘟嘟的看起来健康点，更重要的是，很可爱哦”，雫曾经打从心底里如此建议，结果自那以后三天内，奈奈都没和她搭话。“成为魔法少女的话就能变瘦了，那不就行了吗？”，雫这么想着，但是没有说出口，而是把这句话就这么埋在心中。奈奈的少女心对身为同性的雫来说实在是难以理解，但是要是不装作一副理解的样子，奈奈又听不进自己的话。

Recently, she had been cutting back on her food intake, and Nana had also been trying her best to eat more vegetables. She had obtained the local mountain vegetables from somewhere, and then she had made unheard-of dishes with them. The mysterious dishes and the mysterious odour that went with them made SHizuku shake her head every time she ate them.
最近不仅在节食，奈奈似乎还尽量努力进食蔬菜。不知从哪里入手了当地的山菜，然后做出闻所未闻的料理。闻所未闻的料理加上闻所未闻的味道，每次都吃得雫直摇头。

--Still, even so.
——但是，即便如此。

I’m happy as long as she can smile like this, Shizuku thought.
她能这么笑着就已经很满足了，雫如此想到。

In truth, she used to be happier in the past. She glowed with the joy of helping to save other people as a Magical Girl. There were 16 Magical Girls active within the city, and ever since she had been forced to compete with other Magical Girls, that glow of hers seemed to be shrouded by some sort of haze.
其实她以前更加开朗。作为魔法少女拯救他人的那份喜悦让她闪闪发光。在市内活动的魔法少女共有十六人，自从被强制与其他魔法少女开始竞争后，她的光芒就蒙上了一层阴霾。

Shizuku… Winterprison knew very well what she had to do. Nemurin and Ruler. That made two. There were six more who had to be eliminated. She could not let Sister Nana’s name get on that list. Just the thought of her death made her guts feel like they were being torn apart.
雫……寒冬牢狱很清楚自己该做的事情。眠眠，王权。这样就两个了。该被淘汰的还有六名。不能让修女娜娜榜上有名。单单只是想象她的死亡，内脏就仿佛要被撕裂一样。

There were several suspicious points about Ruler’s elimination. After considering how Swim Swim had come here to offer them a large quantity of Candies, free of charge, she could not imagine that there was no connection between the two. Someone had appeared who wanted to shake off the rule of simply collecting Candies.
王权的淘汰还有几点可疑的地方。和泳泳为了无偿提供大量点数而特意来到这里这件事，实在让人不觉得没有联系。现在已经出现了想要摆脱单纯依靠收集糖果这一条规则的家伙。

Shizuku picked up a glass tropical fish ornament, and she looked through it at Nana as she worked in the kitchen. Thanks to the refraction of the light, she looked very slim. Shizuku laughed out loud, and then she called out to Nana in order to hide her laughter.
雫拿起桌上的玻璃制热带鱼饰品，透过饰品凝视着正在厨房工作着的奈奈。因为玻璃的折射，她看起来变得很苗条。雫笑出声来，然后为了掩饰自己的笑声向奈奈搭起话来。

“Then, let’s head out after the stew. What’s our plan for today?”
“那么吃完炖菜后就出门吧。今天的计划是？”

“We’re going to Mt. Takanami tonight.”
“今晚预定去到高波山那里。”

“It’s not good to venture too far out. It’s dangerous right now.”
“出远门可不太好啊。现在很危险哦。”

“It’ll be fine if you’re around, Shizuku. We have to go today.”
“有雫在，没问题的。今天非去不可。”

“Why is that?”
“为什么？”

“The Musician of the Forest Clamberry sent us an invitation to meet. Perhaps she’s noticed our activities. Perhaps she might finally be willing to help us…”
“森林音乐家库兰贝莉发来了务必想见我一面的邀请。说不定已经对我们的活动有所耳闻。说不定这次她终于愿意帮我们了……”

Nana laughed weakly. That weakness was probably because Top Speed’s reaction had not been ideal, and they had almost come to blow with Ripple. Shizuku had the sudden desire to hug Nana tightly.
奈奈无力地笑着。之所以会如此无力，大概是因为之前最高速的反应不够理想，而波纹甚至已经到了差一步就当场翻脸的程度了。雫有种想紧紧抱住奈奈的感觉。

The meeting time was 2 in the morning, at the Mt. Takanami quarry.
碰头时间是午后两点，高波山的采石场。

The Musician of the Forest Clamberry. She had seen her in the chatroom, but not in the flesh.
森林音乐家库兰贝莉。在聊天室曾经看过，但是没有实际见过。

The reason why it was not “spoken to her in the chatroom” but “seem her in the chatroom was because she attended the chatrooms very frequently, but she had never spoken. She simply played background music in a corner of the chatroom.
之所以不是“在聊天室里说过话”，而是“在聊天室里看过”的原因是，她参加聊天室的频率很高，但是基本没有发过言。只是一个人在会议室的角落演奏着BGM。

She was truly a mysterious Magical Girl. Since she was in the chatroom, that meant that unlike Winterprison--who was basically only there to accompany Nana--she was there to participate in conversations. However, while she was in attendance every time, she had never once made a sound, and she had never spoken to others of her own accord.
真是一个让人不解的魔法少女。既然她会参加聊天室，也就是说——除去像寒冬牢狱这样只是陪人去的——是去参加对话的才对。但是，明明每次都参加，但是每次都是一声不吭，没有自己自主发言过。

While Sister Nana had grown careless over the thought of gaining a new comrade, Winterprison was still on alert. Enemies whose motivation and goals were unknown were more troublesome than dangerous enemies who could be recognized as such with a glance.
虽然修女娜娜以为“伙伴增加”而掉以轻心了，但是寒冬牢狱还是保持着警戒心。主义和主张及目的都不知道的对手，是比一看就懂的危险对手更为麻烦的存在。

Clamberry showed up on time.
库兰贝莉准时出现了。

“Good evening, Sister Nana. Good evening, Vess Winterprison.”
“晚上好，修女娜娜。晚上好，维斯·寒冬牢狱。”

“Good evening, Musician of the Forest Clamberry.”
“晚上好，森林音乐家库兰贝莉。”

“Clamberry will do, Sister Nana.”
“叫我库兰贝莉就好了哦，修女娜娜。”

“I understand, Clamberry. I’ve seen you many times in the chatroom, but this is the first time I’ve seen you in person.”
“我明白了，库兰贝莉。在聊天室曾经多次看到你的身影，实际像这样和你见面还是第一次吧。”

“The two of you are exactly as I imagined, what a surprise.”
“两位都是如同我想象中的人，真是太让人吃惊了。”

Winterprison had no objections, so she simply nodded and said hello. Clamberry and Sister Nana were all smiles as they began talking. Clamberry never spoke in the chatroom, but after speaking to her in real life, she came off as a respectful, mature woman who was a veteran of the trials of society.
“没有介意只是点头说了一声你好的寒冬牢狱，库兰贝莉和修女娜娜正满脸笑容，气氛融洽地进行着对话。在聊天室里决不开口的库兰贝莉，实际见到并交谈过后，给人一种毕恭毕敬，经历过社会历练的成熟女性的感觉。

Her long, narrow ears protruded through her flowing blonde hair. Her shoulders, her legs, her waist and thighs had vines coiled around them, and they were covered in blossoms. She wore a pleated dress shirt and a jacket that was the color of new grass, fastened at the collar with an amber-colored clasp. While her upper body looked stately enough, her lower body exposed large portions of her thighs, and the appearance of a Magical Girl in her twenties combined with the mature impression only made that impression feel that much more intense.
细长的尖耳朵从自然流泻的金发中突出，肩膀，脚，侧腹，大腿，无一不被藤蔓缠绕着，大小各异的鲜花争相开放。带有折边的衬衫，印有蔷薇图案的嫩草色夹克衫有着琥珀色的衣领，虽然上半身看起来比较稳重，但是下半身开始就大面积露出了大腿，外表年龄看起来是二十岁左右的魔法少女和成熟的印象合在一起，更使人觉得印象强烈。

After Clamberry listened to Sister Nana’s passionate presentation, she slowly replied:
库兰贝莉大概听了一遍修女娜娜的热情演说后，缓缓开口道：

“Then, I believe it ought to be my turn to make a suggestion. May I?”
“那么差不多该轮到我来提问了，可以吗？”

:Of course. Please ask, as long as it is within our power to answer.”
“当然可以，只要在我们能回答的范围内就请尽管发问。”

“Could I ask you to stop doing this sort of thing?”
“这种事情，能请你们收手吗？”

“What?”
“什么？”

“Things like these impede the progress of the game.”
“像这样阻挠游戏的事情。”

Sister Nana looked pleadingly at Winterprison. She seemed to have doubts. Winterprison pulled out the right hand she had stuffed into her pocket. Clamberry was smiling.
修女娜娜一副求救的表情看着寒冬牢狱。她似乎在感到疑惑。寒冬牢狱把插在外套口袋的右手伸了出来。库兰贝莉正在微笑着。

“Ah… what do you mean by that?”
“那个……请问是什么意思？”

“I mean exactly what I said.”
“就是字面上的意思哦。”

Winterprison took a step forward, using her body to shield the baffled Sister Nana.
寒冬牢狱向前踏出一步。用身体挡住了一脸困惑的修女娜娜。

“Winterprison. Ever since I heard about you, I’ve wanted to fight you.”
“寒冬牢狱。自从听了你的相关传闻，我就想和你战斗了。”

“What?”
“什么？”

“They say nobody is your equal when it comes to melee combat.”
“听说在肉搏战方面，无人在你之上。”

She glanced around herself. There was a cliff on her right and a mountain on her left, and the ground beneath was stone. Visibility was good, with no traps or ambushers. While this place was  called a quarry, it would be better to describe it as a ruined quarry, The construction firm holding the right to the area had closed down long ago. Everything of value among the machinery and equipment had been taken back, and the only other useful things in sight ranged from huge boulders to smaller rocks of all kinds of shapes and sizes.
扫了一眼周围环境。右边是山崖，左边是石山，脚下到处是石子。视野不错，没有陷阱和伏兵。虽说是采石场，正确来说是采石场遗址。握有所有权的当地建筑商已经解散了。机械和材料中有价值的东西已经全部被没收，其他看起来有用的东西，只有从巨石到石子，大小不等的各种石头被遗放在这里。

Clamberry’s respectful attitude had not changed since she reached here, and neither had the air around her. In that way, she slowly approached them.
库兰贝莉来到这里时的恭敬态度并没有改变，全身散发出的氛围也完全没变。她就那样慢慢走了过来。

She’s in attack range. In the moment she thought that, Clamberry launched a front kick with no warning whatsoever, which Winterprison blocked with her left arm. So strong! She could hear the sound of bones crunching. The wind of the kick set WInterprison’s cape fluttering, and Sister Nana wailed quietly as she fell flat on her ass.
进入攻击范围了。这么想的瞬间，库兰贝莉毫无征兆地不断踢出前踢，寒冬牢狱用左手挡了下来。好重。骨头被碾压的声音。前踢的风压掀起了寒冬牢狱的披风，修女娜娜发出小小的一声惨叫，一屁股坐在了地上。

“Quarries and long scarves do go well together.”
“果然采石场和长披风很配啊。”

Clamberry stabbed her fingers at Winterprison’s face; at the same time, Winterprison used her Magic. Her Magic was to “make walls”. The material of the walls varied with the locally available materials. In a quarry, she could erect stone walls.
库兰贝莉向着寒冬牢狱的脸刺出了自己的手指，与此同时，寒冬牢狱使出了魔法。她的魔法是“做出墙壁”。构成墙壁的材料根据使用场所的不同而变化。在这个采石场的话，则是会升起石壁。

A two meter-tall, one meter-wide and 30 centimeter-thick wall erupted from the crown, interposing itself between Clamberry and Winterprison. However, Clamberry’s strike easily pierced and shattered the wall, so Winterprison rolled backwards along the ground to evade the attack.
两米高，一米宽，三十厘米厚的石壁破土而出，挡在了库兰贝莉和寒冬牢狱之间。但是库兰贝莉的攻击轻而易举地贯穿并击碎了墙壁，寒冬牢狱往地上做了一个翻滚，躲过了攻击。

Her physical abilities were superior to those of the average Magical Girl. However, she had not made her attack because that was the only thing she was proud of. Clamberry used trained techniques. Her movements were filled with a confidence based on ample combat experience. She aimed for the eyeballs and the brain behind the eyeballs without any hesitation. That was an attack founded on the assumption that both sides were trying to kill each other.
身体能力比魔法少女的平均水平要高不少。但是，她并不只是对这点有自信而发起攻击的。库兰贝莉使用了受过训练的体术。她的动作，充满着以丰富的实战经验为基础的自信。她毫不犹豫地瞄准了眼球，以及眼球后的大脑。那是以互相夺取性命为前提的攻击。

“Winterprison!”
“寒冬牢狱！”

“Keep back, Sister Nana.”
“退后点，修女娜娜。”

She had to open up the distance between the enemy, so the enemy would be drawn away from Sister Nana. With those two aims in mind, Winterprison took a step back. In a place like a quarry, one had to carefully consider every move one made in order not to be hampered by the undulating terrain, but as Clamberry drew closer, she did not seem to be considered by the conditions under her feet at all, even smiling naturally.
扩大与敌人的距离，让敌人远离修女娜娜。怀着这两个目的，寒冬牢狱退后了一步。在采石场这种场地，为了不被此起彼伏的障碍物阻碍，任何移动都得经过思考，但是逼近过来的库兰贝莉看起来完全没有在意脚下，还很自然地笑了起来。

She built a wall; it was kicked down. She raised a wall: it was shattered. She erected a wall; it was leapt over. The walls that were supposed to be obstacles were completely useless. They could not even slow her opponent down.
筑起墙壁，被踢倒，筑起墙壁，被打碎，筑起墙壁，被越过。作为障碍的墙壁完全没有发挥作用。连阻止敌人的行动都做不到。

It was not because the walls were weak. Winterprison infused the power of magic into the walls she made. While the structural material was stone, it ought to be harder than steel. Yet even such a sturdy wall was little more than skinwall before Clamberry’s extraordinary arm-strength, and it could not hold against her attacks.
并不是因为墙壁脆弱。因为寒冬牢狱所筑起的墙壁灌入了魔法的力量。虽然材料是石头，但是硬度应该比钢铁还要高吧。本来应该是那么坚固的墙壁，但是在库兰贝莉那非同寻常的腕力前就如同薄墙一样，完全经不起攻击。

Winterprison backed a few more steps up, under the pretext that she would be attacking again. However, the attack she expected did not come. Clamberry narrowed the gap between the two of them yet again.
以她会发动攻击为前提，寒冬牢狱再次退后了半步。但是预想中的攻击没有来。库兰贝莉把两人之间的距离缩得更短了。

Low kick. Winterprison felt a twinge of pain from the calf she used to defend herself. It had been pierced by the tip of Clamberry’s foot.
下踢。寒冬牢狱用来防御的小腿感到一阵剧痛。小腿被库兰贝莉的脚尖击中了。

High kick. The kick aimed at her head suddenly changed direction, bypassing her defense and striking Winterprison in the ribs. The blow very nearly knocked the breath out of her.
由下至上。瞄准头部的上踢突然方向急转，绕过防守，踢中了寒冬牢狱的肋骨。冲击几乎能让她能把肺里的空气全部吐出来。

She followed up with another attack. This one went from the middle to the upper zone of the body. Clamberry kicked with her toe at Winterprison’s temple, while the latter had lost her balance. She twisted aside, but she could not dodge it. Blood and flesh flew from her cheek. Her cheekbone was broken, her teeth were shattered and the sound of crushing echoed through her eardrums. Winterprison stood firm and endured it.
进一步追击。这次是从中部到高处。向着身体失去平衡的寒冬牢狱的太阳穴，库兰贝莉用脚尖踢了过去。虽然已经扭转了身体，但是还是没能避开。脸颊血肉横飞。脸颊骨折断，牙齿破碎，崩碎声直达鼓膜。寒冬牢狱定住脚忍了下来。

Just then, her belly filled with newfound strength. THis was the power of magic. It was not her own power. Sister Nana was supporting and cheering for her. If that was the case, she could still fight.
这时，腹部感到了一股新的能量。魔法的力量。不是自己原本拥有的力量。是修女娜娜在加油援护自己。这样的话还能打下去。

As Winterprison prepared to counterattack, Clamberry’s foot remained before her eyes. Before Clamberry could pull her leg back, Winterprison’s scarf had already wrapped around it. While the scarf was her trademark, it was not a simple decoration, but a weapon. She pulled the scarf back with all her might, and caught Clamberry’s leg.
正当寒冬牢狱准备反击时，库兰贝莉的脚依然在她眼前。在库兰贝莉收脚回去之前，寒冬牢狱的披风牢牢将其套住了。这披风虽然是她的象征，但并不仅仅只是装饰，而是武器。她一口气用力把披风拉了回来，抓住了库兰贝莉的脚。

She channelled all the strength in her body into her hands, seizing Clamberry as though she would tear her in half, then raised her up and slammed her down with all her might while raising a wall at the same time. Without even the chance to break her fall, Clamberry hit the wall head on, and blood spurted through the air.
她向双手中灌入全身的力气，带着势必把对方折断的力度握住库兰贝莉，并且将其举起来向下砸去，同时配合时机筑起墙壁。连受身的机会都没有的库兰贝莉就这样一头撞了上去，鲜血随之飞溅。

Winterprison pursued Clamberry, who was rolling over the smaller stones. She blocked Clamberrys’ escape route with a wall, then grabbed her. They struggled and fought, she grabbed her hand, she pinned her leg, she tangled her long hair up and wound it around her hand. In the end, Winterprison was mounted on Clamberry, and they glared at each other.
寒冬牢狱朝着在小石子上翻滚的库兰贝莉追了过去。她在在库兰贝莉的逃跑路线上筑起墙壁封住对方的行动，狠狠抓住了她。相互缠斗，相互缠身，握住她的手，压住她的脚，扯住她长发绑在她的手上。最后寒冬牢狱骑在库兰贝莉上，两人相互瞪着眼睛。

Winterprison punched down on her without hesitation. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven punches. Clamberry could not get her guard up in time to minimize the damage. Winterprison just kept hitting her. She did not need to finish her off in one blow. She just needed to slowly accumulate damage on her. She would just keep pounding until she cried out.
寒冬牢狱毫不犹豫地揍了下去。一拳，两拳，三拳，四拳，五拳，六拳，七拳。库兰贝莉来时不时想要通过格挡减少伤害。寒冬牢狱则是继续着殴打。没有必要一招了结她，只要一点一点积累打击伤害即可。不断打到她叫出来为止。

“Winterprison! Behind you!”
“寒冬牢狱！后面！”

She heard Sister Nana’s voice. Winterprison turned back in a panic, but there was nothing there, only Sister Nana, who was looking over at her in surprise.
听到了修女娜娜的声音。寒冬牢狱慌张地转过头去，但是什么都没有。只看到惊讶地望着这边的修女娜娜。

After that, she took a fierce hit to the back of her head, and Winterprison was sent flying off Clamberry’s body. Winterprison landed on her tiptoes, lowered her stance, and raised her fists with one knee on the ground.
之后后脑勺受到了猛烈的冲击，寒冬牢狱被从库兰贝莉身上弹飞了。寒冬牢狱以脚尖着地，压着身子，以单膝跪地的姿势架着拳头。

She had heard Sister Nana’s voice and turned around, but there was nothing there, and instead she had been attacked through the enormous hole she had left in her defences. Sister Nana would never do anything to distract Winterprison on purpose, and she did not look like she had shouted just now.
听到修女娜娜的声音条件反射把头转了过去，但是什么都没有，反而因为露出巨大的破绽而遭到了攻击。修女娜娜不可能会做出故意让寒冬牢狱分心的举动，而且看起来也不像大喊过。

--Was it Clamberry’s Magic?
——库兰贝莉的魔法吗？

Through her shaky field of vision, she saw Clamberry preparing to stand back up.
要摇摆不定的视野中，库兰贝莉准备站起来了。

Winterprison used her Magic as she rose, and then broke into a sprint. She raised a wall between herself and Clamberry. She knew it would be easily destroyed, but all she needed was to block her opponent’s field of vision for just a moment.
寒冬牢狱在使用魔法的同时站起身，然后跑了起来。在自己和库兰贝莉之间强行筑起了一道墙。她知道肯定会被轻松破坏，但是只要能一瞬间挡住敌人的视野就好。

Winterprison grabbed Sister Nana, jumped off the cliff in the opposite direction from Clamberry, and left the quarry.
寒冬牢狱抱起修女娜娜，跳下和库兰贝莉反向的悬崖，离开了采石场。

◇◇◇

They had escaped.
被逃掉了。

She had memorized the geography of Mt. Takanami. And then there were Clamberry’s senses, especially her hearing, which had surpassed the realm of living creatures. She was certain that if she pursued, she would be able to catch them.
高波山的地形已经熟记于心。加上库兰贝莉的五感，特别是听觉已经发达到超越了生物的领域。她确信只要追上去就能抓住她们。

However, Clamberry did not pursue them. She looked down from the cliff, made sure they were not hiding in a grass patch or under a slope, and then she shrugged.
但是库兰贝莉没有追上去。她从山崖上往下眺望，确认她们没有藏在草丛或者斜坡底下之后，她耸了耸肩。

“They got away ~pon?”
“被逃走了pon？”

The voice from the Magical Phone was laced with censure and mockery. Clamberry was quite impressed by how a synthetic voice could manage to be so expressive.
从魔法终端传来的声音中，似乎夹杂着含有责怪、侮辱的感情。没想到合成声音也会做出这么精巧的举动，库兰贝莉如此感慨到。

“Didn’t you say you were going to take care of Sister Nana ~pon? Letting her live won’t help the game’s progress ~pon.”
“不是说要收拾掉修女娜娜吗？让她活着对游戏的进行也不会有任何作用。”

“No, perhaps… that might not be.”
“不，说不定……没那回事。”

It had been a long time since Clamberry had met an opponent who could stand up to her. On top of being able to hold their own against her, it had been even longer since Clamberry had met an opponent who could force her to use her Magic.
能够和库兰贝莉抗衡的对手真是好久不见了。在抗衡的基础上，让库兰贝莉使出魔法的对手则更是好久不见。

Clamberry’s Magic was the ability to control sound. She imitated Sister Nana’s voice and had it shout, “Winterprison! Behind you!” to distract Winterprison, and then attacked her in the defenseless back of her skull. If she had not been pinned under her, that blow might have been enough to finish her off. In the end, all she could do was hurt her and make her flee.
库兰贝莉能够使出“操纵声音”的魔法。模仿修女娜娜的声音，喊出“寒冬牢狱！后面！”这句话，让寒冬牢狱分心，然后攻击她毫无防备的后脑勺。要不是处于被按在地上的不自由姿势，那招就有可能了结她了吧，结果最后只让她受伤然后逃跑了。

Vess Winterprison was a powerful opponent of the likes she had never met before. While she had been supported by Sister Nana’s Magic, her hand to hand fighting ability was on par with Clamberry’s. Standing before an opponent she could fight with all her might, she could not help but feel joy in her heart, as though something were shining in the back of her head. It was very much like being a girl in love. Perhaps she was just like a girl in love.
维斯·寒冬牢狱是过去从未遇到过的强敌。虽说受到了修女娜娜的魔法援护，但是在格斗战上能和库兰贝莉平分秋色。在自己能使出全力与之战斗的对手前，喜悦之情油然而生，感觉脑袋深处附近在闪闪发光。和正在恋爱中的少女的感情很像。说不定正是正在恋爱中的少女。

Sister Nana, as Winterprison’s shackles, was an interference in order to have a proper fight with Winterprison. However, without Sister Nana, Winterprison would probably not be that strong. One just could not have everything go their way.
为了能和寒冬牢狱来一场真正的战斗，身为她枷锁的修女娜娜实在太碍眼了。但是要是没有修女娜娜，寒冬牢狱恐怕不会那么强吧。真是无法万事顺心。

“I hope you’ll give me more time to consider. In any case, we’ll leave this matter aside for now.”
“希望你能给我点时间考虑。总之这件事先暂且搁下吧。”

“You’d better rein yourself in ~pon.”
“你给我适可而止pon。”

“The Magical Girls who seems to get along well with Sister Nana… there seem to be strong people among them. Perhaps a strategy of eliminating her would be appropriate.”
“看起来和修女娜娜很合得来的魔法少女……在当中看起来也是很强的人，把她排除这一方案恐怕比较妥当吧。”

The first and most important thing is that her opponent had to be strong. They had to have the mutual aim of taking each others’ lives, which literally meant that they both had to have their lives on the lines. Only then would she not be alone. Fresh blood would flow, chunks of meat would fly, internal organs would scatter, but even then, both sides would still understand each other. However, in order to reach that level, her opponent had to be strong. If they fell in one hit, they could not interact with each other.
首要前提是对方很强。拥有夺取对方性命的共同目的，如同字面意思，是互相赌上性命的行为。只要那个时候才不是孤身一人。鲜血流淌，肉沫横飞，内脏四散，即便如此双方依旧能互相理解。但是为了到达那种境界，对方必须变强。要是一击被打倒，交流就不够了。

She knew that this could be called a suicidal battle-lust, but if there was no fighting, she would not have accepted this job, and so Clamberry had no intention of changing herself. The battle maniac known as the Musician of the Forest Clamberry wiped her flowing nosebleed with her wrist,
自己知道这可以说是称之为自杀的战斗欲望，但要是没有战斗的话，自己就不会接受这样的工作，库兰贝莉完全没有改变自己的意向。战斗狂森林音乐家用手腕擦了擦自己一直止不住的鼻血。

◇◇◇

As the new team leader, Swim Swim had basically inherited Ruler’s policiess, while at the same time not forgetting to work towards her own objectives. That was because she thought it was what Ruler would have done.
成为新领队的泳泳基本上继承了王权的方针，同时也不忘推行自己独有的方针。因为她想，要是王权的话肯定也会这么做。

While they had not changed the prioritization of stealing Candies over collecting them, she felt that even when it came to stealing Candies, they had to pick their methods wisely. When stealing Snow White’s Candies, their selected method of a direct robbery had barely succeeded. La Pucelle had been much stronger than anticipated and the fact that she had managed to swiftly overcome the unfavorable odds of three-to-one and rush over to assist Snow White was the reason why they had “barely succeeded”.
虽然比起收集魔法糖果，相互抢夺魔法糖果放在优先地位这一点没有改变，但是她认为就算是相互抢夺，也要选择方式。在抢夺白雪的魔法糖果时，采用的是正面强夺的手段结果在千钧一发之际成功了。圣少女比预料中要强大的多，能够迅速摆脱一对三的不利状态赶来支援这一点正是“千钧一发”的原因。

If Snow White had been as strong as La Pucelle, if La Pucelle had been stronger, if she had used some incredible Magic, that “barely succeeded” would have undoubtedly become “a complete and utter defeat.”
要是白雪和圣少女一样强的话。要是圣少女更强的话。要是使用了不得了的魔法的话。“在千钧一发之际成功”毫无疑问会变成“彻底的失败”。

A direct confrontation would end up like that. They did not need to attack head-on; they could attack from the sides or the back.
正面对抗的话就会变成这样。不一定要从正面，从侧面，从背面都可以。

Swim Swim had thought about it. How to do it well, and how to carry it out. She ought to think about how to collect more Magical Candies. She ought to think about how to render her foe powerless and then take their Candies. Just as she was thinking, contemplating, and agonizing, the Peaky Angels made a suggestion.
泳泳想过了。怎么做好，应该怎么做。应该要好好想想怎么才能收集更多的魔法糖果。应该要想
想怎么把对手无力化，然后把魔法糖果抢过来。正当她在考虑，思考，烦恼时，Peaky·Angels提出了一个方案。

“How about dragging down that person who made it?”
“You mean by spreading rumors? Onee-chan, you’re magi-cool.”
“例如拖那个成功了的家伙的后腿如何？”“散播谣言是吧，姐姐真的好酷。”

After saying so, the Peaky Angels began spreading vicious rumors about Snow White. The way they were playing with their phones in a corner of the temple, their heads bowed as they discussed things felt vaguely supernatural.
说完后，Peaky·Angels开始在总和网站的论坛上发表对白雪不利的谣言。一边摆弄着魔法终端，一边在寺庙的一个角落相互低头交谈的情景有种超现实主义的感觉。

“I’ll say the white Magical Girl threatened me.”
“Then I’ll say the witch slapped me.”
“The ninja kicked me.”
“The nun bullied me.”
“被白色的魔法少女恐吓了”“那这边就写‘被魔女凶了一顿’吧”“被忍者踢了”“被修道女欺负了。”

Ruler would probably have been able to think of a better idea, Swim Swim thought.
换作王权的话能想到更好的主意吧，泳泳如此想到。

◇◇◇

“Thank you for the meal.”
“多谢款待。”

After finishing dinner, Koyuki put down her bowl and sighed. Koyuki sensed someone looking at her and raised her head, and found that her father was looking at her. His eyes were filled with worry and curiosity, and Koyuki shifted uneasily in her set.
吃完晚餐后，小雪把茶碗放下松了一口气。小雪感觉到了视线抬起头来，发现父亲在打量着她。那是混杂了担心和好奇的眼光，小雪不禁有些坐立不安地动了动身子。

“W-what’s the matter?”
“怎、怎么了？”

“It’s nothing… hm.”
“没什么……恩。”

For some reason, his mouth had refused to work. Her father rapped his balding head with his hand. His attitude was very unnatural, because usually the Himekawa family would be much more direct and to-the-point when they gathered. Only the sound of her mother doing the dishes in the kitchen remained the same.
不知为何突然有点口齿不清起来。父亲用手叩了叩开始谢顶的额头。他的态度很不自然，因为平时姬河家团聚的时候会更加干脆直接。只有母亲在厨房洗碗的声音还是一如以往。

“What’s wrong, Dad? Is something bothering you?”
“到底怎么了，爸爸？很让人介意啊。”

“No, it’s just that for some time, you’ve been in low spirits, Koyuki.”
“不，最近一段时间小雪很没精神吧。”

Koyuki looked in surprise at her pajama-clad father.
小雪惊讶地看向穿着睡衣的父亲。

Besides the amount if hairn on his head, the rest of him was strangely the same as usual. When Koyuki had grown up, the amount of people saying “you look like your father” had increased, but she did not know where the resemblance lay.
除了头发的数量，其他地方令人诧异的和以前一样。虽然小雪的长大后被说“和父亲很像”的次数也增加了，但是自己也不知道到底哪里像。

“You;ve been eating less too. You didn’t even touch your chopsticks yesterday. Your face is very pale, and Mom was wondering if you had been dumped or something, Koyuki.”
“饭量也减了，昨天甚至完全没有动筷子吧。脸色也很苍白，妈妈还以为小雪是不是失恋了之类的呢。”

A shout came from the kitchen: “I told you not to mention that!”
厨房传来了“不是说好不说的嘛！”的一声喊叫。

“Today… while you still looked out of it, at least you ate your food, so I was somewhat relieved.”
“今天的话……虽然比起平时的小雪还是没什么精神，但是还是好好把饭吃下去了，让我稍微安心
了点。”

“Ah, mm.”
“诶，嗯。”

“Does that mean you’re close to a way to solving your problem?”
“也就说逐渐找到了在某种程度上解决问题的方法？”

“Kind of, mm.”
“算是吧，嗯。”

“Then, were you dumped?”
“那么，是失恋吗？”

“I don’t know!”
“不知道！”

She stood up, forced her trembling legs to run to the corridor, then she ascended the stairs and flopped down on her bed.
她站了起来，勉强驱使自己似乎在颤抖的双脚跑到走廊，登上楼梯，倒在自己床上。

It would seem her depression had been noticed. In other words, her parents were worried about her, and that in turn bothered her. However, the talk of being dumped had chased away her guilty thoughts. Souta’s face suddenly appeared in her mind, and then it transformed into La Pucelle. Koyuki shook her head to cast the image away.
似乎被看穿自己在消沉了。也就是说父母在担心自己了，自己觉得很过意不去，可是失恋之类的说法在这时把自己的愧疚之情吹飞了。飒太的脸忽然浮现在脑海，接着又变成了圣少女，小雪左右摇头把想象抛开一边。

◇◇◇

School, part-time work, and being a Magical Girl. School related to her future. Part-time work concerned her present, and being a Magical was tied to her continued survival. She could not abandon any of them, so the only time Kano had to think was before she slept, when she bathed, and on the road to and from school.
学校，打工，魔法少女。学校关乎到自己的将来，打工关乎到自己的现在，魔法少女关乎到自己的性命。没有一个地方能收手，华乃有空思索的时间就只有入睡前和洗澡时，还有上学和放学路上的时间。

Walking to the train station that was nearest to her home took five minutes, and walking to the train station nearest to her school took seven minutes. Between each of them-transfer time included--Kano wobbled back and forth in the train for 35 minutes.
走向离家最近的车站要五分钟，走向离学校最近的车站要七分钟。车站与车站之间，包括换乘在内的三十五分钟之间，华乃在电车中摇晃着。

She had bought a monthly ticket from the station office, and its was valid for the duration of the third term of her second year.
在财政拮据之前买的月票，期限是到二年级的第三学期期末为止。

After becoming a third year student, she would have to use a bike, and if she could not find a cheap bike, she would have to walk to school. Before that, she decided to enjoy her days of being able to take a train to school.
成为三年级学生后就要用自行车了，要是没能入手便宜自行车的话就不得不徒步上学了。在此之前，她决定好好享受安稳的乘坐电车上学的日子。

Whether going to or coming from school, the train was packed with students. Amidst the students chatting with their friends abotu sundry topics, Kano alone looked out the window of the train.
无论是上学还是放学，电车里的学生都很多。在和朋友们聊些无关紧要话题的学生中，华乃一个人眺望着窗户外面。

The big red oblong object was the signboard for the Koushuu Restaurant. While it had become famous for it s gyoza, the crows often gathered in the rubbish dump behind the shop. The owner was an famously obstinate old coot, and he refused to listen to good advice. What should be done about that?
那块巨大的红色菱形物是红洲饭店的招牌。虽然是一家以水饺美味而出名的店，但是店面背后的垃圾场经常有乌鸦聚在那里。那里的店主是个出了名的老顽固，就算有人提出忠告他也听不进去吧。该怎么办呢？

The building before the train station that looked like it was about to collapse was a municipal multi-storey car park. A section of the stairs from the first to the second floor were rusted, and one could see a small hole in it. If said hole were not patched, someone would get hurt because of it. Even writing a letter to the relevant authorities would be a drop in the ocean. Maybe asking Top Speed if she had any tools to repair it would be better.
现在看起来也是摇摇欲坠的车站前大楼是市营的立体停车场。从一楼通往二楼的楼梯的其中一段已经生锈了，露出了一个小小的洞口。要是不修好的话，总有一天会有人会因此受伤吧。就算写信给政府机关肯定也是石沉大海吧。问问最高速有没有修理用的道具说不定会比较好。

There was a supermarket which glowed with beautiful lights and colors after nightfall, and beside it was a massive overhead bridge. About once every three days, at 10pm, a middle-aged man with a large back would carry a long chair which he leaned against the side of the overhead bridge, and it somewhat concerned her. While he looked like someone with a stable job, everytime she saw him, his head was lowered with a pained expression on his face. Perhaps she ought to speak to him.
进入傍晚后变得流光溢彩的超市旁有一座巨大的人行天桥。大概每三天一次，夜晚十点时，一个后背宽大的中年男性就会背靠在人行天桥旁的长椅上，稍微有点令人在意。虽然从外表装扮来看应该是有固定职业的人，但是每次看到他的时候，他都是一副痛苦的神情低着头。说不定应该和他搭搭话。

As she thought about these things, the train reached Nakajuku, and Kano took her smartphone from her bag. This was not her Magical Phone, but an ordinary smartphone. The aggregator site had a lot of Magical Girl sightings today as well. As expected, the lion’s share of them concerned Snow White.
在思考着这些事情的时候，电车通过了中宿，华乃从书包里拿出智能手机。不是魔法终端，而是普通的智能手机。今天的总和网站也有很多关于魔法少女的目击情报。当中最多的果然还是白雪。

As she contemplated the things happening in Nakajuku, Kano thought of something. In order to earn Candies, should she come up with a plan for herself, or should she gather them in her own area? Which would be better? If this had been two months earlier, she would have undoubtedly chosen the former. Now, she could not decide. The former option suited her style very well, while the latter was simply being a busybody who got everyone down. Even so, she still could not decide.
考虑在中宿发生的事的时候，华乃这么想了。为了赚取魔法糖果，到底是应该自己制定方案呢，还是应该就在自己负责的区域收集呢，到底是那边会更好呢。要是两个月前的话，自己毫无疑问会选择前者。到了现在就说不出更偏向哪个了。前者很符合自己的风格，后者只是令人郁闷的多管闲事。但是，即便如此自己还是无法作出决定。

She wanted Magical Candies so badly that she had investigated the various incidents in Nakajuku. In the end, Kano knew everything about her area from the Chinese restaurant’s rubbish dump to the multi-storey carpark’s staircase. After telling Top Speed about this, she was praised with, “You know it so well! As I thought, Magical Girls ought to love the places where they live!” When she had heard that exaggerated tone, she might have clicked her tongue, but she was not unhappy.
她想要魔法糖果想得不得了，为此把中宿的各种事件都调查过了。结果，从中华餐馆的垃圾场到立体停车场的楼梯，已经没有华乃不知道的事情。把部分知识告诉最高速之后，被“你了解得真清楚啊！果然魔法少女就得像这样深爱着自己的居住地呢”这样表扬了。听到那种夸张的语气，自己虽然嘴上咂舌，但是心里也不是不高兴。

Snow White probably thought of these things as she reached out a helping hand to others.
白雪也是像这样一边想着这些事情一边向他人伸出援手的吧。

She continued paging through Snow White’s column. She had fixed a bicycle chain, heedless to how it got her pure white clothes dirty with sticky black oil. The white Magical Girl had patted the head of a crying child, while her own face implied she wanted to cry more than anyone else. While it was an unconfirmed rumor, one could tell her character through her actions.
她继续把专题网站往后翻。毫不在意纯白衣服被漆黑的油污弄脏，依然把自行车的链条装好了。抚摸着正在哭泣的孩子头部的纯白魔法少女，有着一副比谁都想哭出来的脸庞。虽然是不确定的传闻，但是从行为举止就可以看出本人的为人性格。

When she heard the announcement that her train was nearing its stop, Kano slipped her smartphone back into her bag.
听到快要到达目标车站的广播，华乃把智能手机收回了书包里。

◇◇◇

With a heavy heart, Winterprison accepted the fact that she had been pushed to the brink of defeat.
寒冬牢狱心情沉重地接受了自己被逼入败北边缘的这一事实。

The fact that they had been suddenly attacked by a person who should have been talking to them had severely wounded Sister Nana’s heart. While she had been distracted by Magic, the fact that she had experienced difficulty in her specialty of melee combat and had been unable to properly protect Sister Nana was a blow to Winterprison as well. However, it was nothing compared to Sister Nana herself. She felt ashamed at her hubris at not wanting to kill her opponent while making them suffer. The next time I see that bitch, I’ll take care of her, Winterprison vowed.
本已经答应来好好谈谈的对手突然袭击过来的这一事实，严重伤害了修女娜娜的心。虽然说是被魔法分心了，但是在自己擅长的肉搏战上尝到苦头，没能好好保护修女娜娜让寒冬牢狱也多少受到了一点打击，不过和修女娜娜本人比起来，这点小事不算什么。为自己想要不杀掉对手就让对方尝到苦头的这一傲慢感到羞愧，下次见到那个人渣的时候一定要一击收拾她，寒冬牢狱如此发誓道。

However, the shaken Sister Nana did not have the free time to rest.
但是被打击的修女娜娜没有休息的空闲。

On the second day after the fight with Clamberry, she was arranged to mentor the new Magical Girl. While Winterprison had advocated the idea of cancelling or delaying the event, the fragile Sister Nana insisted on it, and in the end they decided to make the date as planned.
在和库兰贝莉交战后的第二天，预定要对新人魔法少女进行培训。虽然寒冬牢狱主张应该取消或者延期，但是憔悴的修女娜娜固执己见，最后还是决定如期赴约。

Magical Girls recovered from injury quickly. The wounds Winterprison had taken in defeat were already healed. However, the wounds on Sister Nana’s heart had not yet recovered.
魔法少女的伤回复得很快。寒冬牢狱在战斗败北时所受的伤已经完全好了。但是修女娜娜的心之伤明显还没有痊愈。

As she walked two steps behind the stumbling Sister Nana, Winterprison thought, if the new Magical Girl plans to hurt Sister Nana, I won’t let her off.
一边走在踉踉跄跄的修女娜娜两步远的身后，寒冬牢狱一边如此想着：要是新人魔法少女是个想要伤害修女娜娜的人，自己绝不会放过她。

***

The nights in Muhamachi were very dark. The impenetrable darkness hid the existence of Magical Girls. While there were no tall buildings here, once one avoided the streetlights, nobody would come and butt in even if one were simply talking by the roadside. Taking advantage of this fact, Winterprison and the others arranged to meet in an abandoned factory.
木挽町的夜晚很黑。无法看透的黑暗把魔法少女的存在隐藏了起来。虽然没有高大的建筑物，但是只要避开街灯，就算很普通地在路旁交谈也不会有人过来查问。利用这一事实，寒冬牢狱等人在废工厂前碰头了。

This region, which was originally known as Woodworking Street, had suffered the impact of a prolonged period of economic decline. Companies closed one after the other, and the factories had shut with them. The only people who would come alone to this place in the middle of the night were daredevils seeking to test their courage, professional thieves, or perverts.
原本被称为木材店街的这一带受到长期不景气环境的冲击，公司接连倒闭，工厂也随之关闭，深夜独自一人路过这里的，就只有来测试胆量的冒失鬼，职业小偷，或者是变态。

If one had to put Magical Girls into one of those categories, rather than thieves, they would probably be closer to perverts, Winterprison thought in a masochistic way. Just then, Sister Nana showed up, and Winterprison hurriedly cast those thoughts out of mind.
要说魔法少女属于那一类人的话，比起小偷，大概更接近于变态吧，寒冬牢狱如此自虐般想着。这时修女娜娜突然出现，寒冬牢狱慌张地打消了这种想法。

Sister Nana was a saint. She would sacrifice herself to help others.
修女娜娜是圣女。能做到牺牲自己帮助他人。

It was not that she was such a great person, but she would put her life on the line for Sister Nana.
自己并不是如此了不起的人物，但是为了修女娜娜，自己能赌上性命。

In that case, what about the Magical Girl before her?
那么眼前的魔法少女又如何呢。

While it was not the place of Winterprison--whose outfit was no different from a regular person’s--to speak, her outfit was quite plain, as thought she had come from the pages of one of the books on Habutae Nana’s bookshelves, Alice In Wonderland. However, the color was different. The Alice from that picture book was not dressed all in black.
虽然轮不到和普通人的装扮无异的寒冬牢狱来说，但是服装确实比较朴素，就好像羽二重奈奈家里书架上的小说——《爱丽丝梦游仙境》的主人公直接跳出来了一样。只有配色不同。绘本上的爱丽丝并不是全身黑色装束的。

This Alice was dyed from head to toe in a lustrous, raven-black color, and she was silent and expressionless, making her look like she was wearing mourning clothes to a funeral. The white rabbit plush she held in her right had was not so much cute as bone-chilling.
全身染着光泽的乌鸦羽毛颜色的《爱丽丝》，配合上本人默不作声的神情，看起来就像穿了一件葬礼上用的丧服。右腕抱着的白兔玩偶与其说是可爱，不如说是毛骨悚然。

It was not just her clothes which appeared unhealthy. Even an outlaw like Calamity Mary or an absolute madwoman like Clamberry appeared to be in the pink of health, with shiny cheeks and ample figures. They naturally displayed the allure of their bodies.
看起来不健康的不仅仅只有服装。就算是像灾厄玛丽那样的犯罪者或者像库兰贝莉那样的狂人，也都是面色健康脸颊很有光泽，而且身材匀称。自然而然地呈现出肉体的魅力。

This Magical Girl… Fav had introduced them and hoped they would mentor the new Magical Girl, Hardgore Alice. She had big black circles under her eyes and her pupils were dull and lightless. She seemed a little hunch-backed and her pale lips were parted about the distance of her little fingernail, while both her arms hung limply down on either side of her body. She was not so much pale as ashen white; as she recalled, this was what people with stomach upsets looked like.
这个魔法少女……在法布介绍下，说希望给予培训的这个新人魔法少女“哈德格尔·爱丽丝”眼下有大大的黑眼圈，眼眸暗淡无光。似乎有点驼背，淡淡的嘴唇张开了尾指指尖的程度，左右两手无力地下垂着。脸色与其说是苍白不如说是惨白，记得有胃病的人就是这样子的。

She looked listless, and there was no telling if she was listening to Sister Nana’s heated speech. To Winterprison, Alice was simply spacing out.
一脸无精打采，不知道是否有在听修女娜娜怀着满腔热情的讲义。在寒冬牢狱看来，爱丽丝只是在一直发呆而已。

“Now is the time for us to unite. In order to avoid any more deaths, let us gather our wisdom and think of a way. We need an idea to overturn the present circumstances.”
“现在正是要团结的时候。为了不再出现牺牲者，让我们集结大家的智慧一起来想办法吧。我们需要能打破现状的主意。”

There was no answer. There was no sign of agreement. Even her eyes did not seem to have blinked. She had not reacted in any way after stating her name at the beginning.
没有回答。没有附和。似乎连眼睛都没眨。一开始报上姓名后就没有任何反应。

Besides, this furore had started precisely because there were more than 15 Magical Girls. Should Alice not be more responsible as the 16th Magical Girl? Even if she did not intend to pay attention, at the very least she should have pretended to listen attentively as a form of respect for Sister Nana.
再说这次的骚乱，正是因为魔法少女超过了十六名而引起的。身为第十六名魔法少女的爱丽丝不是应该要有点责任感才对吗？即使没有认真听的打算，至少装出一副认真听的样子才算是对修女娜娜的尊重吧。

As she looked at Alice, Winterprison felt a twinge of irritation. And this irritation was growing.
看着爱丽丝，寒冬牢狱感到了一股烦躁。而且这股烦躁正在逐渐扩大。

When she was told that magic existed to make people happy, she did not react.
对于魔法是为了让人得到幸福而存在的这句话没反应。

When she was told the story of being attacked by Calamity Mary, she did not react.
对于被灾厄玛丽袭击的事还是没反应。

When she was told about having to do good deeds to earn Candies and how one person would be eliminated every week, she did not react.
对于通过做好事而储存魔法魔法糖果，根据魔法糖果的数目，每周会有一个人被淘汰这些规则还是没反应。

When she vented her feelings about Nemurin’s elimination, she did not react.
对她倾诉眠眠被淘汰时的遗憾还是没反应。

When she shared her theories about Ruler’s elimination, she did not react.
对于混杂着猜测说明的王权被淘汰的事情还是没反应。

When told about Clamberry, the Magical Girl with a screw loose, she still did not react.
对于库兰贝莉这个脑子有点毛病的魔法少女还是没反应。

During this time, Winterprison’s frustration had been building nonstop, and she was reaching the limits of her tolerance. Given her cool demeanour and level-headed attitude, she had once been mistaken for a calm and rational Magical Girl, but the truth was that Winterprison was a very impatient person. Just as she was prepared to bark at her--
这段期间，寒冬牢狱的烦躁在不断累积，就快接近忍耐的极限了。从她帅气的样貌和沉稳的态度看来，曾经被人误解为是冷静而且理性的魔法少女，然而实际上寒冬牢狱是个很没耐性的人。正当她准备破口大骂的时候。

“I heard that Snow White was attacked several days ago. In all likelihood, their objective was her Magical Candies, because not long ago, it was announced that Snow White had the most Magical Candies. Ahh, what a shallow course of action…”
“听说前段日子白雪被袭击了。恐怕目标是魔法糖果吧。因为距离宣布白雪拥有最多魔法糖果的时间才过了不久。啊啊，多么肤浅的行径……”

Alice’s shoulders twitched.
爱丽丝的肩膀微微颤抖了一下。

“When you say Snow White…”
“你说的白雪……”

Sister Nana stopped. Though it was a quiet and garbled voice, it was still the first time Alice had spoken since they met.
修女娜娜停了下来。虽然是细小而又含糊不清的声音，但这是碰面以来，爱丽丝第一次开口。

“Do you mean the white Magical Girl?”
“是指白色的魔法少女吗？”

“Eh?”
“诶？”

“Is Snow White the white Magical Girl?”
“白雪是白色的魔法少女吗？”

“Mm, that’s right.”
“恩，没错。”

“Who wears something like a school uniform?”
“穿着类似学生服的？”

“Yes.”
“是啊。”

“Do you know where she is?”
“你知道她在哪里吗？”

“She ought to be responsible for the beach area, am I right?”
“负责地区应该是俱边海滨，没错吧？”

That last sentence was a confirmation directed at Winterprison. Without waiting to see if Winterprison nodded, Alice turned around and ran off. The sound of running gradually grew more and more distant. Winterprison thought, “So she can speak politely after all” and other unimportant things.
最后一句话是在向寒冬牢狱确认。没有确认寒冬牢狱是否有点头，爱丽丝就转过身子跑了出去。跑动声逐渐远去。寒冬牢狱这时想的是“原来那家伙会说敬语啊”之类无关紧要的感想。

“Could it be… she plans to help Snow White?”
“难道说……是打算去帮助白雪吗？”

Or perhaps after learning that Snow White had the most Candies, she had eagerly run off to steal them from her? But she knew that Sister Nana would overreact to her saying that, and so Winterprison made a production of nodding sagely.
不应该是知道拥有魔法糖果最多的是白雪之后，兴高采烈地去抢魔法糖果了吗？她知道要是这么说之后，修女娜娜又会对此反应过敏，于是寒冬牢狱装模作样地点了点头。

◇◇◇

La Pucelle had regretted her actions. She had regretted them very, very deeply. She had regretted very, very, very, very, very, deeply indeed. She had believed that the Magical Phone firmware upgrade was simply to transfer Candies, and she deeply regretted her naive thinking today. It was plain that she should have been thinking about stealing and being stolen from. That was she would have been more watchful of her surroundings.
圣少女反省过了。做了个很深刻很深刻的反省。做了个很深刻很深刻很深刻很深刻很深刻的反省。以为魔法终端的版本升级只是为了转移魔法糖果，他深刻地反省了自己这一天真的想法。明明首先要想到的就应该是抢夺与被抢夺才对。那样自己就应该能更加警戒四周的情况了。

She also had to reflect and repent on the fact that her meeting place with Snow White was fixed at the seaside steel tower. They had mentioned it in the chatroom, which basically meant that it was an open declaration. It had given those villains the perfect conditions to engineer an ambush.
还必须要反省和白雪的碰头地点固定在俱边海滨的铁塔这件事。那个在聊天室里也说过，基本算是公开情报。是给那些不端分子创造袭击条件的绝好机会。

Then, she also had to regret the fact that she had assumed Snow White would think the same way as her. Snow White basically did not want to fight. Her wishful thinking that she would think the same way as the ideal Magical Girl in her heart was simple pride.
还必须要反省对于擅自认为和白雪拥有同样想法这件事。白雪本来就不想战斗。一厢情愿地认定她和自己理想中的魔法少女拥有同样理想的自己实在是太傲慢了。

Then she had to reflect on herself, she who had not realised that the opposition was stalling for time until they had told her. She had been too absorbed in the joy of being able to use her strength and had put Snow White into danger. The responsibility for the theft of over 37000 Magical Candies fell squarely on La Pucelle’s shoulders.
还必须要反省直到被告知这一切只是在拖延时间位置都没发现对手在拖延时间的自己。过于沉浸在有机会使用力量的愉悦中，令白雪陷入了危机。多达三万七千个魔法糖果被抢走的责任，全都要归咎于圣少女。

She could not simply lose herself in reflection. She had to improve herself in order to go about her work as a Magical Girl more safely and conveniently. They would have to change meeting places every day. In order to reduce risk, they would have to carry their Candies separately. In order not to lower their guard, they would have to talk back to back when they met. That way, if either side was attacked, they could immediately deal with the situation.
不能只这样停留在反省中，必须为了能够更加安全和方便的进行魔法少女活动而加以改进。每天都要改变碰头的场所。为了分散风险，把魔法糖果分开携带。为了不放松警惕，两个人见面的时候背对背进行对话。这样就算哪一方受到袭击都能马上应付现状。

As she reflected upon herself, she also felt ashamed.
在反省的同时也感到惭愧。

She had sworn to protect her under any circumstances, but to think that within a scant few days, she had ended up in this state. She was ashamed. She was so ashamed that she did not even dare to meet Snow White. But they could not not meet, because there was no guarantee that something like this would not happen again. At that time, she would definitely protect Snow White. While it would seem she had been safe in the end, ever since that incident, Snow White had been deeply depressed. I want to cheer her up, La Pucelle thought.
明明已经发誓绝对要保护她，但是没想到才过了短短几天就落到如此田地。好惭愧。惭愧到都不敢和白雪见面。但是又不得不见面，因为不能保证今后不会发生类似的事情。到那个时候一定要保护好白雪。虽然从结果来看是得救了，但是自从那件事后，白雪就一直很消沉。我想让她能更加打起精神来。圣少女如此想到。

When she saw the hurt Snow White, it felt as though she was hurt as well. Seeing her Magical Candies being snatched away and Magical Girls who had thought of such things had dealt her a great blow. Even when she talked to her, most of her answers were ambiguous. If she left her alone, she would stand there at the mercy of the night wind, staring silently into the distance.
看到伤心的白雪，似乎连自己也就跟着伤心起来。看到魔法糖果被夺走，看到产生了这种想法的魔法少女，她受到了很大打击。就算和她搭话，大部份也只是模棱两可的回答，如果放任她不管的话，她就会站在那里任由夜风吹拂，一言不发地眺望着远方。

Come to think of it, Snow White… Himekawa Koyuki had always hated fighting ever since she was young. She was a girl who would burst into tears even when she saw an argument that had nothing to do with her. She was the least suitable Magical Girl for robbing and hurting each other.
回想起来，白雪……姬河小雪从小就是个讨厌争斗的孩子。是一个即使只是看到和自己无关的其他人之间发生争执也会哭出来的女孩子。她是最不适合做相互争夺，相互伤害这种事的魔法少女。

She had to protect her.
一定要保护她。

When she thought of how she had embraced Snow White on top of the tower, her heart grew fluttery. When she thought of how she had been attacked, the blood in her body drained away.
一想起和白雪在铁塔上相拥时，心里便雀跃不已。一想起她被袭击的事时，全身的血液便会逆流。

Right now, Snow White was not with her. She had already gone home.
现在白雪并不在自己身边。她已经回家了。

“Good evening.”
“晚上好。”

“Hello.”
“你好。”

A sudden greeting came from behind her back. La Pucelle responded without any panic or surprise.
背后冷不丁传来一声招呼。圣少女既没有慌张也没有惊讶地回答道。

She had felt someone staring at her all day. Someone seemed to be studying Snow White and La Pucelle’s every move. While La Pucelle had sensed the third party, apparently Snow White had not.
今天一直感觉到视线。有人似乎一直在监视白雪和圣少女的一举一动。尽管圣少女早已发现第三者的存在，但白雪似乎没有察觉到。

Had another Magical Girl showed up to set her sights on Snow White? With that thought in mind, she had put herself between Snow White and that other presence, and let her return home first. However, that presence had not only not vanished, but had gone on to speak to La Pucelle.
盯上了白雪的魔法少女又出现了吗？出于这个想法，自己一直挡在白雪和那股为止的气息之间，让她先一步回家了。但是，那股气息不仅没有消失，反而向圣少女搭话了。

“It seems you discovered me.”
“似乎被你发现了呢。”

“Indeed.”
“没错。”

“Your reputation is not for show. Then, why did you still let Snow White go back?”
“果然名不虚传。那为什么还让白雪回去了？”

“It’s easier for me to move around on my own.”
“我一个人的话比较方便行动。”

“My my… that makes things much simpler.”
“哎呀哎呀……那话就好说多了。”

The No. 7 Harbor Warehouse was much lower than the steel tower, but because it was very close to the ocean, the smell of seawater was very strong. The thick scent of saltwater rode on the sea breeze. The constellations shone faintly between the clouds. This Magical Girl appeared very old. From what La Pucelle knew, both herself and her enemies appeared as kids around ten-odd years old, but this Magical Girl looked to be in her twenties.
第七港湾仓库虽然比铁塔低很多，但是因为离海很近，海水的味道还是很强烈。浓厚的海水味道伴随着海风吹来。繁星在云间微微闪烁。那个魔法少女的外表年龄很大。据圣少女所知，无论是敌人同伴还是自己，都是只有十多岁的孩子，但是这个魔法少女看起来似乎在二十岁左右。

“La Pucelle. I heard you achieved victory in a battle against three-to-one odds.
“圣少女。听说你甚至在三对一的战斗中获得了胜利。”

“That was hardly a victory.”
“那说不上是胜利。”

“There’s no need for humility or self-deprecation. To me, that fact is sufficient. As long as you are a strong Magical Girl, I intend to challenge you.”
“无需谦虚和自卑。对我来说，那是个事实就已经足够了。只要你是个强大的魔法少女，我就有发起挑战的意义。”

La Pucelle blinked
圣少女眨了眨眼。

“You’re not aiming for the Candies?”
“你的目的不是魔法糖果？”

“I am the Musician of the Forest Clamberry. I do not need Magical Candies. I desire only a strong opponent.”
“我是森林的音乐家库兰贝莉。我不需要魔法糖果。我想要的只是强敌。”

Was she not a Magical Girl who intended to steal Magical Candies. It could not be helped that she would think that way because they had been attacked by robbers several days ago, but La Pucelle still felt a hint of shame at having come to that arbitrary conclusion. She slapped her tail on the roof to hide her own embarrassment.
不是以夺取魔法糖果为目的的魔法少女吗？虽然因为前几天才刚刚被强盗袭击，自己会这么想也是没办法的事，但是圣少女还是为自己武断的判断感到了一丝羞愧。为了掩饰自己的难为情，她狠狠地把尾巴砸向屋顶。

Still, come to think of it, the fact that someone had come here to fight a strong opponent excited her to no end. This sort of situation perfectly suited La Pucelle’s inclinations. She did not dislike this sort of situation.
不过话说回来，为了追求和强敌战斗而跟来这一点真是令人振奋不已，这种情况正合圣少女的意愿。自己并不讨厌这种情形。

Setting one’s sights on the strong, craving an encounter with another mighty foe, using all of one’s strength in a straight up fight and acknowledging each other. La Pucelle had always admired that sort of relationship she had seen in manga and anime so many times.
以强者为目标，渴求着强敌的二人相遇，用尽全力光明正大地战斗，互相承认对方。圣少女一直很憧憬那种多次在漫画和动画中见到的关系。

“I am La Pucelle. Musician of the Forest Clamberry, allow me to be your opponent.
“我是圣少女。森林音乐家库兰贝莉啊，让我来做你的对手吧。”

“Thank you.
“谢谢。”

La Pucelle drew her keen blade, and Clamberry clenched her fists. The sea breeze blew over the two Magical Girls facing off on top of the warehouse roof, rustling the flowers which decorated Clamberry. The flowers covering her entire body made her think of Snow White, but the colors of the flowers were richer, more vibrant, and more lively.
圣少女拔出利剑，库兰贝莉握紧拳头。海风吹拂着对峙于仓库顶上的两位魔法少女，吹动着装饰在库兰贝莉身上的鲜花。装饰在全身的鲜花不禁让人联想到白雪，但是整体色调比她的花饰要浓郁，鲜艳，活泼。

Chat Meeting 3

Fav: Then, let’s have a spirited chat meeting today ~pon.
法布：那么今天也要精神十足地来聊天pon

Fav: Ah… it seems nobody’s here ~pon.
法布：那个……好像没人在呢pon

Fav: It’s a little troubling to only have two participants by the third week ~pon.
法布：到了第三周，只有两个人参加有点让人伤脑筋呢pon

Fav: Forget it ~pon. Besides, everyone will read the chatlogs.
法布：算了pon。反正大家会看聊天记录的。

Fav: I’m grateful that Clamberry is participating as usual ~pon.
法布：库兰贝莉能像往常一样来参加真是太感谢了pon

FavL Since there’s nobody around, it should be fine to start with the background music ~pon.
法布：反正没人在，就算开始BGM也没关系pon

Fav: Now then, I have three pieces of news ~pon.
法布：那么接下来有三个消息pon

Fav: Two good, and one bad.
法布：两个好消息，一个坏消息。

Fav: Since good news is hard to come by, let’s start with the good news ~pon.
法布：难得有好消息，就先公布好消息吧pon

Fav: The Magical Phones have been upgraded again ~pon.
法布：魔法终端又升级了pon

Fav: From now on, you can download useful items ~pon.
法布：从现在起可以下载便利的道具了pon

Fav: There’s five in total!
法布：一共有五个！

Fav: There’s only one of each, and it’s first come first serve.
法布：每个都限定一人，先到先得。

Fav: Now then, the bad news.
法布：那么接下来是坏消息pon。

Fav: La Pucelle has died in an accident ~pom. How painful ~pon. How sad ~pon.
法布：圣少女因事故死了pon。好伤心pon。好难过pon。

Fav: However, you can let his sacrifice go to waste. From today onwards, you need to keep working harder ~pon.
法布：但是大家不能让这个牺牲白费，今后也要再接再厉pon。

Fav: Next is the final piece of good news.
法布：接下来是最后一个好消息。

Fav: Since La Pucelle is dead, there will be no eliminations this week.
法布：因为圣少女死了，所以本周没有被淘汰者。

Fav:: Then, see you next week!
法布：那么下周再见～

Fav: Ah, regarding the announcement of the person with the most Candies; since that person does not approve, it has been cancelled ~pon.
法布：啊，有关持有魔法糖果最多者的发表，因为本人不愿意，所以取消了pon。

Fav: See you.
法布：请周知。

The background music she should have heard from the Magical Phone suddenly vanished, drowned out by the wildly-blowing wind and the weeping that Snow White had been holding back in her home, at school, and at the funeral. She contorted her body, wailing, crying, screaming, and pounding the steel tower.
本应能从魔法终端中听到的BGM突然消失了，被在自己家，学校，葬礼会场一直忍着的白雪的恸哭和肆虐的狂风所盖过。她扭动着身子，哀嚎，哭泣，呼唤，敲打着铁塔。

Snow White cried. She had no more energy to contemplate the reasons for her tears and the matters of the future. Because La Pucelle had died, because Kishibe SOuta had died, all she could do was bitterly, bitterly weep.
白雪哭了。她已经没有余力去考虑哭泣的原因和今后的事情。因为圣少女的死，岸边飒太的死，只有悲伤地，悲伤地哭泣着。