Meerkat Localizing Literature
Matatabi Rui
TLNOTE : Matatabi = Catnip / Wandering
“Ugh…! Why am I even doing this…?!”
Utsurugi Rui was currently—gloriously—cornered.
In her dorm room on the upper floors of Prim-Libra’s Tenth Branch,
she stood before a full-length mirror she had barely ever used, comparing her usual outfit (a hoodie + shorts combo in her right hand) to an elaborate full-body ensemble (something she’d hardly ever worn) in her left.
—This is all that man’s fault…!… Read more
Deep beneath the underground base [Nest],
far below where the rank-and-file members gathered, lay a certain room.
The floor was littered with pencil sharpeners, broken fans, bottles of mysterious liquids—hardly any space to step.
But to the room’s owner, this was no issue at all.
The space wasn’t meant for living.
Its sole purpose was to function as a workshop.
This was the factory of [The Six Apostles’] Fifth Seat—〈Gangya, the Toymaker〉.
“Hey, Shien.”… Read more
Its full designation was:
Emergency Security Use – Simplified Replica-Type Artificial Doll 〈Dimension-Coreless-Interface Mk-VII〉.
Incidentally, “Tsukumo” had slapped on this fancy-sounding name upon completion—there was no deeper meaning. It was just because it sounded cool.
Since “Dimension~” was too long, it was shortened to its initials, earning the nickname:
〈Decoy-kun – Mark Seven, Nameless Type〉.
This nickname was used so often in daily life that Tsukumo had already forgotten its official designation.
Now, let’s briefly explain Decoy-kun’s nature.… Read more
“Hmm-hmm~♪”
“…………”
Hinata swayed happily as she sat, clearly in high spirits.
Across from her—Rui sat with a pale face.
“N-no… I can’t. There’s absolutely no way…!”
“You’ll be fine, Rui-chan! I know you can do it! C’mon, c’mon~♪”
The angelic (yet devilish) girl giggled as she pushed it toward Rui.
“P-please, spare me, Hinaaa…!”
Rui shook her head, her eyes slightly teary.
On the table in front of her—
“There’s no way I can eat this much!”… Read more
Final Act: Wings of Similarity
In a stylish sweets café, one particular pair drew more attention than any other customers.
A flaxen-haired man wearing black-framed glasses put on an expression that practically screamed “What, you think my last name is Ibusuki?”
This was Ibuki.
His “disguise” consisted solely of glasses—chosen for the flimsy logic that “glasses are the best disguise”—yet they somehow accentuated his features, transforming him into a stylish, intellectual-looking handsome man. In other words, it wasn’t a disguise at all.… Read more
At last—or so it seemed—the backup power activated, spreading relief throughout the branch.
Even the children gathered in the [Star Tower] were no exception.
“Alright, the elevator’s working again, so let’s all head down for now!”
The laid-back tour guide’s announcement is met with a chorus of cheerful “Okaaay!” from the kids.
Despite being caught up in the earlier incident, their lack of urgency stems from Izayoi’s defeat without major casualties.
Contrary to Izayoi’s—and by extension, Roselia’s—expectations, Hinata had grown overwhelmingly stronger.… Read more
“……It’s my *Compensation Umbra.”
“Compensation Umbra?”
She could tell he nodded from the shift in his presence.
“It demands *physical contact with people*… as a delayed payment.”
The exhaustion in his voice made it impossible to doubt.
And it explained things.
Like the incident during Hinata’s first mission, when *Separation* had hugged her out of nowhere.
Now that she thought about it, that must’ve been his Compensation Umbra too.… Read more
A gentle, floating sensation—as if being laid down. The cold touch of the landing pad presses against her back.
At the same time—
A warm droplet falls onto her cheek.
Hesitantly, she opens her eyes—and stares.
A face of breathtaking beauty hovers above her.
“Hahh—uugh…!”
Lips bitten bloody, contorted in agony.
◇◇◇◇◇
Lux can’t be used during Umbra’s compensation.
There’s no rule stating that
The instant-deferred cost only dulls cognition upon activation.
True—if caught off-guard, the user is easily swallowed by the torrent of impulse.… Read more
—Crimson confetti spilled from the sleeves of the robe, swirling upward in the skyscraper winds.
Brighter than the orange-stained white fortress—red, scarlet, vermilion—the vortex spread outward.
—Like a flower blooming on the distant shore.
At its center, I looked up at Rui.
She scrutinized the crimson paper, her expression puzzled.
Just a flashy spectacle, right?
A hunter of cold-blooded precision wouldn’t understand the purpose of such extravagance.
A faint smile escaped me.
Apologies for gifting you this [Killing Intent] myself, but—
“I’ll give you an excuse.”… Read more
I had to expand my awareness—diffuse my focus.
The deadly arcs advanced slowly, inexorably.
Priority order: lower right, upper left, upper right.
Assessed. Then concentrated on just one swing.
First—lower right.
Simple. A kick off the ground would evade it.
But of course, she anticipated that. The blade from upper left came next.
I responded by—fully extending my arm.
Rotational slashes favor cleaving over thrusting.
Which also meant there would be moments when the hilt faced me.… Read more