Illustration Novel 9

**A person suitable for me** is the ninth release of the Illustration Novel series and features the Musicart Belkis.
The Novel was published on April 8, 2022, featuring **イノオカ (Inooka)** as the Illustrator for this story.

Read here... (Official Website)

## Translation

   I brushed off the military-styled curtain of the command tent with my hand irritably and walked down the path to the Musicarts-only barracks, my footsteps higher than usual.

   **Belkis** "Huh..... How dare he preach to a person like me. Does that man think he's some kind of a god?"

   This is Innsbruck, Austria. It is an ancient city in the Tyrol region, close to the Italian border. We of the First Expedition are stationed in the mountainous area of the Nordkette mountain range, a short distance from the city. Just a few moments ago, I was summoned by the local commander and was given a personal word of advice.

   The reason, I was told, was that the Conductor who had been my buddy had fallen ill from exhaustion and had to leave the unit. They were so mentally and physically ill from my day-and-night "education" that they couldn't sleep at night, and fell like a dead tree.

   I have only educated them on how to behave in a manner befitting my Conductor, from every of their move to the raising and lowering of a fork.

   — Hiiiii*!! Don't let them near me again!*

   — *They're freaking lunatics!*

   — *Belkis is a personality breaker!*

   They were shouting that at the end of the day. What do they mean by a personality breaker? There is no one with a more perfect personality than me. Even the local commander, who just now twisted his normally stern facade into a bitter smile and said, "*Can you please stop crushing your favourite Conductor?*"

   What sort of an intuition is it to crush Conductors? It's the wrong thing to do. How many times have I told them that I am only trying to educate them? There is certainly no shortage of Conductors.

   Rather, I am very aware that the number is limited. But they're so shallow and foolish that they don't realise how much of a positive impact my education has had on this corps. I would like to take this opportunity to personally present my education——

   **Belkis** — *If you're a commander-in-chief and want to make a statement to the people, why don't you think a little more?*

   **Belkis** — *You should also pay attention to your appearance. The head of the corps should not be seen with stubble.*

   **Belkis** — *And there are six more points to point out.....* mggh! mgghggh?!

   Two strong aides blocked my mouth and strangled me with their wings. What a surprise. I was in the middle of a conversation when they pushed me back and kicked me out of the command tent.

   **Belkis** "What an outrageously rude thing to do!"

   Stomping on the ground with a brisk pace, my footsteps become even louder. Why don't you all understand? I have been fighting so hard to make this corps a better place, and yet I remained a lone soldier!

   Then, in the direction of travel, I saw a dozen soldiers currently on a break, chatting and eating a meal of rations. Just the right opportunity. Let's see if my "education" has paid off, shall we?

   **Belkis** "Pardon to entertain me?"

   I gracefully walk past the resting soldiers with my arms outstretched. The soldiers then hand me food one after another. By the time I pass between them, my hands are full of colourful sweets and fruit.

   **Belkis** "*Fufu*, thank you, my lovely students."

   I turn around and smile with satisfaction. Just look at it. This is "education". Now I don't have to queue for rationing. My proud students will avoid them and save only the precious quality ones for me. What I don't eat, I can share with another soldier. Then more and more of my followers will follow me.

   **Belkis** "What a well organised team. You all learn so well."

   I cleared my throat, and from somewhere I heard a feeble voice.

   **Daphnis & Chloe** "Oh, um... Isn't that just raising people who are convenient for you, Miss Belkis?"

   **Belkis** "......Daphnis & Chloe."

   Daphnis & Chloe. She is a Musicart who inhabits the score, which is a ballet music composed by Maurice Ravel. Because of her complicated name, it's often abbreviated to "Daphnis". She was staring at me from diagonally to the right and back, chewing on a ration. I sigh in return.

   **Belkis** "Take a good look. They are all paying tribute to me, and they all look satisfied."

   **Daphnis & Chloe** "Well, it seems to me that more might run away as soon as they see you....."

   **Belkis** "......."

   Sure, there were a few ordinary soldiers who ran away like rabbits, but who cares? Those without the will to learn are those without the will to live. I cannot devote my precious time to such people.

   **Belkis** "Daphnis & Chloe? In other words, what are you trying to say?"

   **Daphnis & Chloe** "N-Nothing....."

   When I narrow my eyes at her, she immediately becomes amusedly silent. If she was going to be silent, she shouldn't have said anything in the first place. They are all so incomprehensible, it's revolting.

   **Belkis** "Had you had enough? If I behave in a way that is appropriate for me, then I am behaving in a way that is appropriate for the world."

   That's how you create soldiers and Conductors who are second to none. I, too, will fight with all my might to protect those who are worthy of me. In other words, the more people who are worthy of me, the closer I am to an invincible force that will always win. Why can't they understand this simple fact?

   I shake my head languidly and take a bite of the almond cookie I've been given. It doesn't taste very good. This is wartime. The cookies, with little butter used, made my mouth terribly thirsty.

   **Belkis** "Tea."

   **Daphnis & Chloe** "Y-Yes."

   When I hold out one hand, Daphnis & Chloe rush to pour me tea from the canteen. As she holds out the mug of tea to me, she says again,

  **Daphnis & Chloe** "Um..... if you keep doing this, you'll be alone one day.....?"

She is surely referring to the mediocre soldier who ran away earlier. Or the Conductor who left me. I pause for a moment and reply matter-of-factly.

   **Belkis** "There's another one."

   Daphnis bit her lip loosely and stared at my face as I said this. I continue without hesitation.

   **Belkis** "But that's okay. It's what I wanted. It's a lot better than the pain of being with someone who doesn't deserve me."

   **Daphnis & Chloe** "Compared to the pain of losing... right....?"

   As she said this, her eyes took on a color of sorrow rather than fright. I wonder what it is? She's being strangely insistent today.

   **Belkis** "What do you mean by that?"

   **Daphnis & Chloe** "N-Nothing.... I've finished my meal so I will leave."

   Daphnis & Chloe turned her back on me and ran off.

   **Belkis** ".....What on earth."

   Don't say things like you understand it. I just want someone strong, someone who is worthy of me, someone who knows how to be polite and decent, someone who is witty and "will never die". Even if I can't protect them, they would be strong enough to survive.

   Speaking of which, I hear that tomorrow new Musicarts and Conductors will arrive from Berlin. I'm not expecting anything. It's not easy to find a suitable conductor for me. But if I actually found one. Then I'm sure I'll wear it like an accessory and never let them go.

   I take another bite of the almond cookie. After two or three bites, my mouth soon becomes dry. I looked around and saw that the soldiers who were taking a break had already dispersed and no one was in sight. Unknowingly, a cough escaped from me.

   **Belkis** "Can someone get me a cup of tea for.... me?"

**Unofficial translation by Rara**

Source: Illust. Novel 9 Translation

## **Characters in Order of Appearan**ce

* Belkis
* Daphnis & Chloe

## Trivia

* Daphnis & Chloe's name abbreviation in the original text is ダフクロ (read as *dafukuro*) from her full name in Japanese, ダフニスとクロエ. It can be translated literally into "Daphchlo". In the translation, a part of her name, or in this case Daphnis, is used instead to avoid confusion on how to translate her name abbreviation.

## External Links

1. ↑  https://twitter.com/ishihara\_sola?s=20&t=dwxhDf6OLtjo7EAZfBFfZw
2. ↑  https://twitter.com/ayatakaha
3. ↑  https://twitter.com/inooka72?s=20&t=TBk9XHk22bZ\_OJLLAsuTOw