Illustration Novel 5

**War Maiden of Solitude** is the fifth release of the Illustration Novel series and features Walküre.
The Novel was published on March 11, 2022, featuring 緜 (wata) as the Illustrator for this story.

Read here... (Official Website)

## Translation

“Merry Christmas” is a word that’s reserved for those who love and are loved. Words that presuppose a deep gentlemanly manner, exchanged in a warm home, with forgiving family and friends. So it surely doesn’t suit me.

The winter sky over Berlin is low and heavy. Today it was particularly humid and looked as if it might start to rain at any moment.

The desolate city of Berlin.

Standing on the above ground like this, you realize how helpless humanity has been in the fight against the D2s. There are no shops that are open for business, and the stalls are at best covered with rags. Overturned cars blocked the roads and burnt-out strollers lay in the yards of collapsed houses. In the old Berlin, the Christmas market would have been very busy by now.

We are told that the streets were overflowing with people, and that here and there they could be seen biting into the succulent *brusques* and emptying beer mugs as if in competition. But now there’s just an uncomfortable breeze blowing through, clinging to the skin.

I thus regularly go out to the above ground to witness the devastation. To remember the sadness of peace being imposed and the suffering of the people. And to turn that indignation into strength. In such situations, being alone is preferable. Strength brings solitude. True strength can only be found at the top of a sheer cliff, and there you have to reach it on your own.

Of course, organized strength is necessary. The opponents also attack in packs. You should plan your strategy, hone your coordination and intercept them with maximum efficiency. To cultivate your combat skills, you may even seek training partners, such as Jupiter, for example. But in the end, it is the strength of the individual that counts. To avoid losing in such situations, I alone will sharpen my mind and body.

Close your eyes and listen to the sound of the wind— no sign of the enemy. The D2’s movement around Berlin has subsided in recent days. But we cannot afford to be lax. A quarter of a century has long passed since the discovery of the Black Night Siderites, which is said to be the source of the D2 outbreak.

Since then, humanity has been forced to fight a war of retreat. Major cities all over the world have been destroyed and people have been scattered in search of a place to live.

**Walküre** “If only I had more power……”

As I muttered to myself and clenched my fists. I am the Musicart of the “**Ride of the Valkyries**”. The Musicarts are the only way to fight against the D2s. If only I had such power, I would never have seen the city in such a miserable state. I would not have made people suffer. I find it ironic, really, that I bear the name Walküre.

Valkyrie is a demigoddess depicted in Norse mythology, meaning “one who chooses the dead on the battlefield”. In other words, she selects the “living” and the “dead” on the battlefield. Is it the “goddess of victory” or the “reaper”? Depending on who you ask, it could have looked either way. I, too, thought the same. If I had the power, I would be a “goddess of victory” who could change the course of the war. But if I am powerless, I am the “reaper”, an abomination to the people. Then, I, who am powerless now, would be an abomination to the people…..

**Walküre** “Stronger— I have to be stronger—”

I stepped on the gravel road and walked slowly yet aimlessly. It has been nearly 30 years since the rise of the Conductors that increases the fighting power of the Musicarts. Yet I still don’t know how to build a relationship with a Conductor, and I have lost some battles because I couldn’t work well with the Conductor. There are also Conductors who, annoyingly, just quickly fled on their own. What comes to mind are the Musicarts who disappeared before my eyes.

Why?

Why can’t I protect people on my own? A Musicart, a “war maiden”, what do they mean? For what I chose my life as a Musicart?

And then— I heard people’s voices on the wind. As I walked further, I saw people who were still going about their business in this devastated city of Berlin.

“Hey, isn’t there any wood left?”

“We’ll give you ours if you like!”

“I’m off to the market for a bit.”

“Oh, can I go with you? I wanted some ornaments for the tree.”

“Say, what do you want to eat on Christmas?”

“I’m fine with anything! As long as it’s something mama made!”

There was a smell of cooking from somewhere. It must be stewed potatoes and cabbages. One broken eave was decorated with a crude woven yew wreath. A reminder that people are strong. The old bustle is gone, but the people’s small celebrations of the year’s events have not ceased.

The task assigned to the Musicarts is to protect the Symphonica, but I cannot ignore those outside of the Symphonica. Whether they thank me or not, it doesn’t matter. I gently place a yew branch that has fallen at my feet on my chest and start walking through the city again. Then, people calls out to me as they passes by.

“Hey there, valkyrie. Merry Christmas.”

“Miss, they say it’s going to start pouring in the evening! Take this umbrella with you!”

“Ah, that branch. It matches! Me too, look, a yew branch—!”

I could see my face, which had been tense and stiff, softened. The taut threads of my heart were unraveling.

I consider solitude to be a necessary condition for strength. But it is never a sufficient condition. Because there are so many strong people who are not alone.

I will defend even if I am the last one standing. Even if there are no Conductors, as long as there are people there to protect. I am the last bastion of humanity. I am the “goddess of victory” who leads people to peace.

I returned them an unfamiliar greeting.

**Walküre** “Merry Christmas. May you be blessed tomorrow.”

**Unofficial Translation by Rara**

Source: Illust. Novel 5 Translation

## External Links

1. ↑  https://twitter.com/ishihara\_sola?s=20&t=dwxhDf6OLtjo7EAZfBFfZw
2. ↑  https://twitter.com/ayatakaha
3. ↑  https://twitter.com/wttn3tpkt?s=20&t=256RrMAq7uLsJN6XHakAEg