The Doll Knight/Chapter 1


 * -|English= Chapter 1 - The Puppeteer's Apprentice

Long, long ago, in a certain little village there lived a young boy. He was some thirteen years old. His name was Pedro.

Pedro was a small boy and not very strong, but his fingers were dexterous enough to astonish anyone. When he moved his whittling knife, wooden blocks would turn into birds and wonderful creatures as if by magic.

The boy spent his days with these crafts as his life.

One day, strange travelers came by the village. An old man with sharp eyes and a large man in black garb casually strolled into the general store whereupon their eyes were drawn to a wooden bird so cunningly carved that one could almost hear its wings beat the air. It was Pedro's latest creation.

After inquiring with the owner of the general store, the old man and his escort came upon the little house where Pedro lived. And the first words they had for him were...

'Prepare your things. We're leaving for the city!'

Pedro's eyes widened in shock at the order.

'What is this?' he cried. 'Who are you people, any...'

His eyes fell on the large man in black. Pedro's words caught in his throat.

The old man chuckled. 'Hm. So you DID notice. I thought you would.'

From the old man's fingers stretched transparent threads. He gestured and the black-garbed man bowed gracefully.

The immense man was a clockwork puppet.

'He is the 'Black Priest,' the old man said. 'My finest work.' His wrinkled face creased further as he smiled slyly.

He was the famous master Capri Oratoria, a puppeteer known throughout Weltluna.

Oratoria fixed Pedro with a beady eye. 'You could craft something even greater than this. Doesn't the mere thought excite you?'

No more words were needed. Tossing his carving knife into a sack, Pedro fixed his cap on his head and greeted his new master by saying farewell to his old home.
 * -|Japanese= 第１話　人形使いの弟子

むかーし、むかし. ある小さな村に、１人の少年が住んでいました. 年の頃は１３くらい. 名前をペドロといいます.

ペドロは小柄で、力も強くなかったのですが 手先の器用さは誰もが舌を巻くほどでした. 使い慣れた小さなノミを魔法のように動かすと あっというまに木彫りの小鳥のできあがり…… 少年は、こうした細工で日々の糧を得ていました.

ある時、奇妙な旅人が村にやってきました. 鋭い眼光の老人と、黒衣の大男の２人連れです. 彼らは、なにげなく入った村の雑貨屋で 本物そっくりの木彫りの小鳥を見つけました. はばたきすら聞こえそうな、ペドロの最新作です.

雑貨屋のあるじから場所を聞きだして 老人と大男はペドロの住む小屋を訪れました. そして口を開くなり…… 『支度せい. 都へ出発するぞ！』 ペドロが目をまるくするのも無理はありません. 初対面の人間に、脈絡もなく命令されたのです.

『やぶからぼうに、何なのさ. あんたたち、いったい誰なん……』 ペドロは言葉を失いました. 後ろにひかえた大男に目を向けた瞬間 息を吐くのも忘れてしまったからです.

『ふむ. やはり気付いたか』 老人の指先からは、透明な糸が伸びていました. 糸を踊らせると、黒衣の大男が優雅に一礼します. 大男の正体は、からくりで動く人形だったのです.

『《黒法師》という. わしの最高傑作じゃ』 老人は悪戯っ子の笑みを浮かべました. 彼こそは、名匠カプリ・オラトリオ. ヴェルトルーナに、その名を轟かせる人形師でした.

『お前なら、これ以上のものを造れるはず. どうだ、ワクワクしてきたじゃろう？』 それ以上の言葉は必要ありませんでした. 使い慣れたノミをザックに入れて 愛用の帽子を頭にのせたら旅支度は終わりです. ペドロは、名匠と共に故郷を旅立ちました.