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- Julius - Maiden Knight's Training
[ INFORMATION ]
[ ] CHARACTER
Prapor
Julius
MeiMei

Summary
Julius brought a light novel, *Maiden Knight Cultivation*, to Prapor, asking how the young knight, captured and tortured by goblins, escaped in the sequel, and received a shocking answer…

This video does not containe caption, but you can watch it to folow along

Midnight not long after work
Julius sire Prapor are you there?
Prapor Comrade Julius is here? You came all the way here by yourself, is this something important?
Julius No… I came here to sire Prapor for some trivial matters… I kept thinking about it and I thought that I wouldn’t be able to get the point across on the phone, so I just had to pay a visit.
Prapor It’s fine, I don’t have anything important at the moment, comrade Julius whatever it is you can just tell me.
Julius Actually… It’s a question regarding a book that I’d like to consult you about: Yours truly had read a book, afterward… hm, I'm really curious about the next part of the story, but I can’t find anything about that.
Prapor Oh?
Julius I thought that since Prapor had been on Earth for so long, you must be very familiar with Earth literature, so it would be better to consult thee.
Prapor I suppose you can say that I like reading, if anything, I can ask others on behalf of comrade Julius.
Julius T-Thats great, meself just want to find the follow-up of this book-
Julius blushes, shuffled out a Bunko-bon edition light novel out of her satchel, the green text on white book spine tilted “Maiden Knight Cultivation”
Prapor T-This…
Taking the book and seeing the cover, only then does Prapor realise something’s up
The main subject of the illustration is a pony-tailed blonde bishoujo [term meant to represent an attractive young girl in Japanese culture], most likely the titular protagonist “Maiden Knight”. She stands tall with a graceful figure, her expression is delicate and pretty yet determined, clad in figure-revealing plate armor, prize sword gripped firm in hand, valiant and dashing.
…To be honest, other than the ears, she looks exactly like Julius.
However, the other depiction within the cover seems to imply she is destined for grim fate: in the woods behind her, several goblins with wretched appearance are sneaking around and peeking out their heads, rope and club in hand, ready to spring into action.
And at the edge of the cover, an array of traps, hidden weapons and snares are pointed at the heroine. And yet due to her overly upright and honest nature, she seemed to be completely unaware of such enemies and traps.
Prapor (Julius went off to read these inelegant stuff without knowing again. Her impression of Earth’s printed materials is still suspended in the space race era.)
Prapor (Though, I wasn’t any better than her back when I was just back on Earth. My classmates in experimental highschool loved to shove those silly picture books in my face, thinking that can broaden this hick’s horizons - as if my horizons are not broad enough from the fact that I was a kid hailing from the forefront of space travel.)
Julius Uhm… siree Prapor?
Prapor Huh? …Oh, right, comrade Julius, why do you think this book would have a follow-up?
Prapor Because… you see, this book does not have a volume number, nor does it say chapter one, two and three, it doesn’t even say that it is an ongoing series or “to be continued”.
Julius T-Thats, because…
Julius Because… it’s definitely inappropriate for the story to just end here!
Prapor (The plot of this book… hm, the overearnest maiden knight is cheated by hooligans, made her way to a goblin infested forest to “cultivate”, naturally she ended up getting ambushed by the cunning goblins, enduring all kind of abuse and torture…)
Prapor (The writing is terrible and uninspiring, though the illustrations are quite refined, like this page where the goblins hung the heroine midair by her ankles, her embarrassed expression while desperately trying to hold onto her dress… mmph, I gotta stop reading this, it’d be terrible if I lost my composure in front of Julius, this heroine looks way too much like her.)
Julius Maiden knight fallen in distress, and yet still unyielding and indomitable… T-This is clearly proclaiming the virtuous tenacity of chivalry…
Julius But even then, the work is clearly incomplete! This has to be some kind of method for writing build-up right?
Prapor Uh…
Julius There must be a follow-up of the maiden knight breaking free and eliminating all of these goblins right?
Prapor …
Julius T-There should be… right? How would justice be defeated by evil…
Prapor Option 1: (Show a smile full of deeper meaning) Option 2: (Show a helpless smile)
Julius Ah?!...
After that, I spent a great deal of effort explaining to Julius this is solely entertainment material with no educational value, thus there won’t be the ending like Julius expects.
Julius siree Prapor… Isn’t… Isn’t this strange? That people from Earth would count these as entertainment?
Julius Evil reigns victorious, beautiful things are corrupted, a pure knight toyed by monsters like a puppet on a string…
Prapor Hmm… This is because Earth is a society constantly in radical shifts, no matter if something is sublimely sacred or evil to the point of not wanting to mention it, it may lose its meaning in just a few years.
Prapor After the meaning is lost, the only thing that remains is its artistic value, then it can become the target of parodies and pranks.
Julius *Sigh*
Prapor Let me give an example, I noticed that some Ruvilians are writing novels based on the Ruvilian Revolution, but I don’t feel their respect towards the heroes of the time.
Julius Forgive me for being direct, but those things… are basically trash. Regardless of the story ostensibly being told, what ultimately receives the most vivid and elaborate depiction is the romance, Love triangles, snatching lovers, jealousy among comrades, along with plenty of distasteful and explicit descriptions.
Prapor (So s​​he is capable of distinguishing a good book from a bad one... It seems Julius simply views anything from Earth through a pair of rose-tinted glasses.)
Julius Hmm... Well, now that you put it that way, sire Prapor, I think I understand it a bit better.
Prapor Oh?
Julius In other words, it is not that Earthlings have abandoned the virtues of the knight; rather, the original form of the knight has become obsolete, which is why the concept is now used as material for entertainment.
Julius Mhm... So I really ought to keep up with the times. Otherwise, I might end up like those old-fashioned maiden knights and get teased without even realizing it!
Prapor (She actually managed to smooth things over... Hmm, that works too.)
Prapor Hahaha... Comrade Julius's spirit of self-reliance is truly admirable.
Julius According to the traditions of the Ruvilian Knights, I should have served as a squire from my youth, receiving hands-on instruction from a full-fledged knight. The Republic Guard still maintains a similar tradition today.
Julius However, I never found anyone to look up to as a role model. Consequently, I did not become a squire but instead strove to cultivate my skills through my own efforts.
At this point, Julius began to size up the Prapor closely.
Julius Prapor… forgive me for being presumptuous, but I may have to suggest a rather abrupt request of you...
Prapor What’s the request?
Julius Since you are such an outstanding knight from Earth, Prapor... would you be willing to accept me as your squire?
Prapor Oh?
Prapor Well, Comrade Julius, armies on earth don’t have knight service comparable to yours.
Julius I understand. So, I would like to take you, Prapor, as my role model, much like a squire to a knight. Please instruct me using the standard training methods of an Earthly knight.
Prapor I see…
Prapor Option 1: I’m afraid I lack the capacity and resources to prepare a comprehensive training course for Comrade Julius. Option 2: However, I can introduce and explain some basic knowledge and skills, giving you a taste of what life as an Earth Knight is like.
Julius Really? That…that would be absolutely wonderful! Could I come over tomorrow morning?
Prapor No problem.
Julius In that case, I will manage my squad tomorrow morning and then come over immediately to receive your teachings, sire Prapor!
And so, early the next morning...
Julius Sire Prapor, squire Julius reporting in!
Prapor Hello, Comrade Julius, since you are to learn the ways of an Earth Knight today, the first step is to adopt the form of address used by Earth Knights.
Julius Right, right... how should I address you...
Prapor So, from now on, Julius is to address me and the other comrades in the camp as "Comrade”, becoming one of us spiritually.
Prapor Furthermore, refer to yourself simply as "I" and avoid using humble forms of address like “this humble one” .
Julius Would this be overstepping my boundaries? I am, after all, merely a squire. I hardly qualify as...
Julius No... well, it was a lack of understanding on my part. Since I intend to adopt the ways of the Earth Knights, using Earth-style forms of address is naturally necessary.
Julius I understand, comrade Prapor.
Prapor Very well, then please come with me, Comrade Julius.
Julius (I wonder what kind of training the Prapor has prepared for me... Although it might sound a bit arrogant... exercises that are too simple certainly won't stump me...)
Prapor Comrade Meimei is preparing lunch huh.
MeiMei Hello, Prapor! Hello, Captain Julius! I apologize, I’m terribly busy right now, and this isn't really a suitable place to receive guests. I won't be able to help you to take a seat.
Prapor It’s alright, Comrade Meimei. We aren’t here as guests, we’re here to help you.
Julius Wait, isn't this the kitchen? Am I supposed to undergo knight training here?
Julius I get it! This must be the "hone your character by doing menial chores before learning the secret techniques" trope, a scenario also featured in “Dragon Ball”...
Prapor No, no, no, Comrade Julius, this isn't about building one's character; taking turns helping out in the mess hall is simply part of an Earth Knight's duty.
Julius …I apologize. I made some false assumptions…
Prapor Don’t worry about it. Let's team up with Comrade Meimei to get the food prep done! The mess squad has to prepare three meals a day for over two hundred people, they can't handle it all on their own.
Julius Understood, Comrade Prapor! Then, please assign the tasks!
Prapor I'll go get the firewood ready, Comrade Julius can wash the vegetables.
Julius Affirmative!
Julius threw herself into the task with great enthusiasm, it was obvious she had never worked in a kitchen before; her movements were visibly clumsy, and more water was splashed onto her apron than staying in the washing basin.
However, because she was willing to put in a great deal of effort, Julius's efficiency was actually quite high.
Julius Comrade Prapor, the task of washing the vegetables is complete.
Prapor That’s great, you got that done pretty quickly. Next, let’s cut all these vegetables into chunks, no need to be too precise; matchbox-sized pieces will do, since we’re making a stew anyway.
Prapor Be careful when using the knife, watch out so you don't cut your hand!
Prapor That... that’s still a bit dangerous for a beginner. Let me go get the safety gear! Comrade Julius, wait for me to get back before you begin working.
Prapor left right as he finished the sentence.
Julius (Did Praporgo fetch gloves because he was afraid I’d cut my hand? It might sound a bit arrogant to think this way, but handling a blade is a hereditary art for knights; I certainly wouldn't make a slip-up, even without gloves.)
Julius (It’s alright, Comrade Prapor; thank you for the kind offer, but I can start cutting right away!)
Chop-Chop-Chop! (The sound of chopping ingredients)
Julius (Not bad, the saber skills I practiced in my youth are still with me. Washing vegetables is hardly an elegant task for a knight, working with a blade suits me far better!)
Julius was making short work of the ingredients, slicing through them like a hot knife through butter, and after a while...
Julius *Cough! Cough!* ...I never realized chopping so many onions would be so pungent! ... *Cough, cough!* My eyes are watering! I’d better wipe them away quickly; I can't let Prapor see me looking so undignified...
Julius Ahh! My eyes are on fire! …
Julius Ouch, mmm…banged my head…
Prapor I'm back! Wow, I didn't expect finding a gas mask would take so long.
Prapor We really need to improve our storage system; gas masks are so hard to find. It would be dangerous if we were suddenly hit by a chemical attack... Comrade Julius, what's wrong?
Prapor arrived belatedly, carrying two gas masks, precisely to avoid having his eyes stung by onion juice.
……
After a bout of hard work, it was finally lunchtime...
Julius It’s been such a long time since I’ve had a meal this delicious! The fruits of one's own labor truly taste the best.
Prapor It seems Comrade Julius has done an excellent job with her first lesson as a squire.
Julius I feel like I’ve made quite a fool of myself... I used to think a squire’s duties were limited to tending the knight’s horses and weaponry, while chores like cooking were simply taken for granted as the work of servants.
Julius After joining the Security Bureau, I have always taken these meals for granted and had never given a thought to logistics.
Not bad, Comrade Julius has already realized the arduous nature and importance of logistics work.
Prapor Logistical support is the foundation of a military unit's combat effectiveness, yet ensuring the operation of the kitchen is merely a very simple and basic aspect of that support.
Prapor In the armies of Earth, the composition of personnel and equipment is so complex that logistics operations are incredibly demanding, to the point where, in some instances, the knights responsible for logistical support outnumber those directly engaged in combat with the enemy.
Julius Exactly. So, as a qualified Knight of Earth, one must not only fully grasp the importance of logistics but also be ready to set aside one's status at any moment to handle logistical tasks, all in the service of the unit's overall combat effectiveness!
Julius Comrade Prapor, I will certainly take this to heart!
Afterwards, Julius returned, well-satisfied.
……However, the vivid redness at the corners of her eyes caused a stir among the personnel at the Security Bureau who were unaware of the actual situation.
Everyone was whispering and speculating about what kind of "training" Prapor had used to reduce Julius, who’s known for her steely resolve to such tears.