The Doll Knight/Chapter 2


 * -|English= Chapter 2 - The Blue Knight

The years passed swiftly for Pedro at Oratoria's workshop on the outskirts of the capital. Under the tutelage of 'Puppeteer Capri,' he learned the techniques to build clockwork puppets and the skills to make them dance and perform.

After three years of training he completed his own masterpiece; a doll of noble bearing dressed in armor with a gleaming blue helm.

If Capri's masterwork, the Black Priest, was a martial arts-type focused on maneuverability, then Pedro's blue puppet was a well-balanced swordsman. Its counterattacks as it turned aside the Black Priest's punches and kicks were the very image of a graceful knight.

'What will you call it?' Capri asked.

Pedro had no answer. He had been so focused in its creation that he hadn't actually thought of one. Ultimately, it would come to be called the 'Blue Knight' before he could name it.

It was some time after Pedro constructed the Blue Knight that the king who ruled from the city would pass on from their world.

The king had long been ill, so there was little shock, and the mourning period passed smoothly. And so, in accordance with the law, the king's only daughter, Princess Tia, would ascend to the throne as queen.
 * -|Japanese= 第２話　蒼騎士

ペドロが、王都の郊外にある 人形工房で働くようになってから またたくまに３年の月日が過ぎ去りました.

人形師カプリの指導のもと からくり人形を組み立てる技術と 人形をあやつる技術を学んだペドロは 修行の成果に、１体の人形を組上げました. それは、青光りの甲冑をまとう人形でした.

カプリの傑作人形《黒法師》が 機動性重視の格闘タイプだとすれば 青い人形はバランスのとれた剣術タイプ. 黒法師の突きや蹴りを受け流しつつ 反撃するさまは、華麗な騎士そのままでした.

『なんと名付けるつもりじゃ？』 『それが、何も考えていないんです』 結局、ふさわしい名前を考えているうちに 《蒼騎士》とだけ呼ぶようになっていました.

都を治める国王が逝去したのは ペドロが《蒼騎士》を組み上げて しばらく経ってからのことでした.

国王は、長らく病床の身だったので 騒ぎも起こらず、しめやかに喪が明けました. そして定めに従い、１人娘だったティーア姫が 女王として即位することが決まりました.